Stars First Round Pick Adds to Growing List of Finns

Emil Hemming was selected 29th overall in the first round of the 2024 NHL draft.

On a momentous night for the NHL, holding the first draft of any league at the new and iconic Sphere in Las Vegas, the Dallas Stars went a familiar route in making their first round selection.

With the 29th overall pick, the Stars added to their ever-growing list of Finnish players, selecting Emil Hemming out of the top league in Finland, the Liiga. Hemming joins the team just over four months away from Dallas travelling to Finland to play two games against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in Tampere.

Late in the first round of the NHL Draft, it becomes harder and harder to make the right pick that will blossom into a top forward or defenseman. But with the recent success of the Stars front office in drafts, it seems easy to believe that Hemming will be nothing but another success story in the NHL.

The pick came as a bit of a surprise, as many thought the Stars would draft a defenseman. The team's prospect pool for that position has been thin for some time, but it is no secret that General Manager Jim Nill and his scouting staff are more than comfortable adding Finnish players to the team. When in doubt, pick a Finn, right? 

Hemming is a right-shot forward, standing at 6'1" and weighing in at 205 pounds. He is one of the younger players in the 2024 draft class, turning 18 the day before he was drafted. But being one of the younger players in his draft class is nothing new for Hemming. He has been playing against grown adults in the Finnish Liiga, some close to double his age, as a 17 year old. 

Before joining the top Finnish professional league, he had played through their junior leagues, strictly playing in Finland for his youth career. Impressively, Hemming has almost scored at a point-per-game pace in most leagues he has played in since 2020. 

Hemming described his style of play in the usual post-draft interview conducted with every player. "Hard working, with a good shot and can play two-way, but goal scoring is my strength," he said. 

While that succinctly sums up his game, Hemming has much more to offer in his play. His most eye-catching skill is his shot, which is already at an NHL caliber at just 18 years old. He can score from all over the ice, but he has a lethal shot from the left face-off circle. Hemming has also been able to beat goalies from far out with his heavy one-time blast. 

While his skating wasn't his strongest suit, Hemming has improved in that area and is now able to use it to his advantage. His edge work, along with his puck-handling skills, allows him to get down the ice quickly and weave through traffic without issue. He likes to drive hard to the net on the rush, wasting little time getting to the high danger scoring areas. 

According to Elite Prospects, the current NHL comparable for Hemming is Nick Paul.

Hemming has the tools to be a top-six winger with his wide variety of shot types. He also has the skill set of a modern day power-forward. He can play through contact, and though he could use some work on the boards, that will come with time and continued physical growth.

The last time the Stars had the 29th overall pick was in the 2013 draft, where the team selected Jason Dickinson. Other notable 29th picks in recent years are Adrian Kempe in 2014, Trent Frederic in 2016 and Rasmus Sandin in 2018. Former Dallas Stars forward Patrick Eaves was the 29th pick in 2003.

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