Red Wings rookie Emmitt Finnie keeps exceeding Steve Yzerman's wildest camp expectations, carving out a spot on the opening roster with every shift. The young forward's surge adds juice to a lineup blending vets like DeBrincat and prime-time risers like Raymond. Yzerman watches closely, knowing impact wins ice time or a quick trip to Grand Rapids.

St. Louis pulls off a waiver wire heist by claiming towering forward Jack Finley, injecting size into a lineup hungry for physicality. At 6-foot-6, this kid brings the kind of presence GMs covet for bottom-six grinding. The Blues' front office moves fast to bolster depth before the trade frenzy, eyeing a deeper playoff run.

The Blues waste no time bolstering their depth, claiming forward Finley off waivers just as the Olympic break looms large. St. Louis front office knows they can't afford to stand pat with injuries piling up and a tight Western Conference race heating up.