| STORIES |
- Sunday, June 25, 2006: Wings fast forward at the draft
- Monday, June 26, 2006: Emmerton and Matthias: Two for price of one
- Wednesday, January 17, 2007: 2006-07 preliminary: Howard seizes top spot
- Tuesday, June 5, 2007: 2006-07 end-of-season: Howard still No. 1 man
- Wednesday, November 7, 2007: 2007-08 preliminary: Howard keeps grip on top spot
- Monday, January 14, 2008: Twenty below, Kindl struggles
- Wednesday, January 30, 2008: 2007-08 mid-season: Howard still No. 1, Ericsson soars
- Monday, March 24, 2008: Emmerton endures forgettable season
- Monday, March 31, 2008: How long must Ericsson wait?
- Monday, May 26, 2008: Will 2006 draft class deliver?
- Saturday, September 13, 2008: Abdelkader stands tall in win
- Tuesday, November 10, 2009: Emmerton showing flashes
- Tuesday, April 6, 2010: Mixed reviews on the farm
- Sunday, September 19, 2010: Time now for Kindl to make NHL leap
- Tuesday, September 21, 2010: Emmerton ‘still a prospect’ but needs big year
- Wednesday, September 29, 2010: On the hot seat
- Wednesday, November 24, 2010: Third year’s a charm for Emmerton
- Wednesday, January 26, 2011: Fournier ‘floats on the ice’ — in a good way
- Wednesday, March 30, 2011: Axelsson still on Red Wings’ radar
- Wednesday, April 6, 2011: Larsson still needs ‘another step up’
- Thursday, June 9, 2011: 2010-11 end-of-season: Smith rules the roost
|
| AWARDS |
- 2004-05 OHL All-Scholastic Team
- 2005-06 OHL All-Star Game (Western Conference representative)
- 2005-06 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge (Team OHL)
- 2005-06 CHL Top Prospects Game (Team Orr)
- 2005-06 OHL Eastern Conference coaches poll (smartest player, tie with Wojtek Wolski)
- 2005-06 OHL most sportsmanlike player finalist (third in voting)
- 2006-07 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge (Team OHL)
- 2006-07 OHL Eastern Conference coaches poll (third smartest player)
- 2007-08 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge (Team OHL)
|
| HISTORY |
2005-06:
- Produced at exceptional pace as OHL sophomore in Kingston (66-26-64-90, plus-37).
- Led Kingston in scoring and finished 11th in the OHL race.
- CHL’s second-highest scoring draft-eligible prospect behind first-rounder Derick Brassard.
- Had an assist in 7-2 win for Team Orr at CHL Top Prospects Game in Vancouver.
- Mid-range in Top Prospects skills (24th hardest shot, 87.7 mph; 21st fastest skater, 15.01 s).
- Scored twice in six games as Kingston lost 4-2 to Sudbury in first round of OHL playoffs.
- Represented Canada at world under-18 championship in April, helping team place fourth (7-2-0-2).
- Consensus first-rounder for 2006 draft, ranked 23rd by International Scouting Service.
- Fell to Detroit in second round (41st overall) at draft in Vancouver.
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2006-07:
- Started OHL season with Kingston on fire (35-24-34-58) before breaking ankle in December.
- Scored twice to lead OHL to 5-0 win over Russia in ADT Canada-Russia Challenge in November.
- Returned from nine-week injury layoff in March and continued to shine late (5-5-3-8).
- Finished minus-13, second worst on a team that went 31-30-5-2, fifth in its 10-team conference.
- Maintained production in five-game first-round playoff loss to Oshawa (5-5-2-7).
- Signed three-year NHL entry-level contract with the Red Wings in April.
- Signed amateur tryout contract and joined the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins for playoffs.
- Appeared in two of seven first-round games and went pointless as Grand Rapids lost to Manitoba.
|
2007-08:
- Represented Canada in the Canada-Russia Under-20 Super Series, playing a depth role (7-0-0-0).
- Appeared in one NHL pre-season game with Detroit before being returned to junior.
- Started season as captain of Kingston and posted good numbers (24-13-18-31).
- Traded at mid-season to Brampton in blockbuster deal for two roster players and five draft picks.
- Named to selection camp for Canada’s world junior team, but sent home because of mononucleosis.
- Missed more than a month with mono before debuting with Brampton.
- Endured sluggish second half (30-12-18-30) and admittedly never returned to 100 percent.
- Didn’t score in five games as Brampton was knocked out of OHL playoffs by underdog Barrie.
- Signed amateur tryout contract with Grand Rapids and finished season in AHL (7-0-1-1).
- Called up to Detroit to serve as Black Ace (spare who doesn’t play) during NHL playoffs.
- Appeared in two exhibition games at Team Canada’s training camp for the IIHF world championship.
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2008-09:
- Made good impression in NHL pre-season with Detroit (6-1-2-3), T7th on the team.
- Survived until the second-to-last round of cuts before being sent to AHL’s Grand Rapids.
- Enjoyed productive rookie year (69-10-25-35), T28th among AHL freshmen.
- Used in a variety of roles and particularly good in January (12-4-6-10).
- Production slowed down stretch (11-0-3-3) and in playoffs (9-1-0-1).
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2009-10:
- Appeared in four NHL pre-season games (4-0-0-0) before being assigned to AHL with Grand Rapids.
- Failed to progress offensively as hoped, placing sixth in team scoring (76-12-25-37).
- Enjoyed great stretch (12-5-6-11) in October but fell back to earth after that.
- Fired just 114 shots on goal and had an even plus-minus.
- Didn’t get the nod as one of Detroit’s “Black Aces” for the NHL playoffs.
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2010-11:
- Appeared in five NHL pre-season games with Red Wings (5-1-1-2, plus-2, 16 shots).
- Returned to AHL with Grand Rapids and had a hot start (11-4-9-13).
- Only had 25 points in final 54 games for similar production to first two years (65-12-26-38).
- Also had minus-1, 127 shots and was 2-for-7 in the shootout.
- Earned his first NHL call-up in January and appeared in two games (2-1-0-1, 8:20 of ice time).
- Scored his first goal in his first game on Jan. 22.
- Earned a three-year contract extension — one way for the final two seasons — on March 28.
- Called up to Detroit as a Black Ace (spare who doesn’t play) for the NHL playoff run.
|
| SCOUT COMMENTS |
| “He’s got very good hockey sense, good stick skills, and he’s a Red Wings type of player, the way he thinks the game. We think he’s a top two line player.” — Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill (June 2006) … “His hockey sense is his best asset. He’s a very smart player. He’s just got to get bigger and stronger, but he’s a pretty well-rounded guy.” — Red Wings director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell (October 2006) … “He’s been a little bit inconsistent … There have been stretches where he has played really well, but he probably needs to be a higher point producer for his skill level. He’s kind of a work in progress. We’d just like to see him put up more points.” — Griffins general manager Bob McNamara (April 2010) … “He’s smart, he’s got good hands, good hockey sense, he’s good at carrying the puck into the offensive zone. Don’t know if he’s going to be a big-time point producer in the NHL.” — Red Wings general manager Ken Holland (March 2011, MLive.com).
|
| STRENGTHS |
| Terrific hockey sense and vision … Responsible in his own end … Pays sharp attention to details … Good on faceoffs and penalty kill … Not shy of fighting through checks or going into traffic … Not a perimeter player … Protects the puck well and can beat a defender to gain the zone … Quick, accurate shot with good velocity … Although his offensive game hasn’t developed since being compared to Cory Stillman on draft day, he has the hands to chip in when chances come to him. |
| WEAKNESSES |
| Doesn’t have a top skating gear, a concern for his size (posted middle-of-the-pack results in skill testing at the 2006 CHL Top Prospects Game: 3.07 seconds in the 60-foot dash; 5.98 seconds in the 150; 15.01 seconds for a full lap; and 17.885 seconds in the puck control competition) … Dating all the way back to his junior days, hasn’t produced the kind of numbers expected … Offensive game would benefit from driving the net and attacking more … Too inconsistent. |
| PROJECTION |
|
Emmerton was drafted to be a top-six forward but has morphed into a probable bottom-six forward. He has outstanding hockey sense and projects as a useful utility player who will likely get his start as a 12th or 13th forward. Although he has a new three-year contract, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has said Emmerton must “play his way onto the team” in 2011-12. If he doesn’t, he’ll be placed on waivers in order to return to the AHL. He’s at a critical point in his career.
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Player statistics powered by www.eliteprospects.com
| Season |
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
|
Playoffs |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
| 2003-2004 |
Elgin-Middlesex Chi. Mn Mdgt AAA |
AHMMPL |
32 |
33 |
24 |
57 |
26 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2004-2005 |
Kingston Frontenacs |
OHL |
58 |
17 |
21 |
38 |
8 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Canada Ontario U17 |
WHC-17 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2005-2006 |
Kingston Frontenacs |
OHL |
66 |
26 |
64 |
90 |
32 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Canada U18 |
WJC-18 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2006-2007 |
Kingston Frontenacs |
OHL |
40 |
29 |
37 |
66 |
22 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2007-2008 |
Kingston Frontenacs |
OHL |
24 |
13 |
18 |
31 |
6 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Brampton Battalion |
OHL |
54 |
25 |
36 |
61 |
16 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
7 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2008-2009 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
69 |
10 |
25 |
35 |
18 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2009-2010 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
76 |
12 |
25 |
37 |
22 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2010-2011 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
65 |
12 |
26 |
38 |
26 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Detroit Red Wings |
NHL |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
- |
- |
| 2011-2012 |
Detroit Red Wings |
NHL |
71 |
6 |
4 |
10 |
14 |
| |
Playoffs |
5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| 2012-2013 |
Detroit Red Wings |
NHL |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Player statistics © www.eliteprospects.com
