Detroit Red Wings: Is It Cory Emmerton Time?

Cory Emmerton is getting his chance in the NHL this year with the Detroit Red Wings. He did have a two-game stint last season in which he scored his first NHL goal against Chicago.

This season is huge for him as he signed a new contract in the offseason. Only the first year is a two-way deal. That means his play this season will greatly dictate not only what the Wings will do, but what his future will be in the league.

This year, Emmerton made the team out of training camp. His minor league stats are good, but nothing special. He has all of the tools that excite coaches, but lacked consistency.

Perhaps he was bored in the minors and will really blossom now that he is in the NHL.

Emmerton’s first game of the season could not have gone any better. He scored a goal and earned an assist. What is even more impressive is that he accomplished that while having only 8:33 in ice time which was the second lowest on the team.

While his second game did not have the same results on the scoreboard, he still had a solid game. Winning three faceoffs and a blocking a shot while playing just over 11 minutes. For the time being, he will likely have to make the most out of the limited minutes he will get.

The Wings are loaded right now. Emmerton will see time on the fourth line, but he is fighting for space. Fabian Brunnstrom and Patrick Eaves will both be pushing for minutes right now. In two months, Jan Mursak should return from his broken ankle to make for an even more crowded situation.

Now is the time for Emmerton to shine. He needs to overcome the sometimes inconsistent play that he had in the minors and rise to the occasion. While two games does not make a season, it appears that he is on the right track.