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Detroit’s Emmerton to play in Finnish league

Cory Emmerton, Trevor Lewis

CORRECTS TO CORY EMMERTON NOT COREY EMMERTON - Detroit Red Wings’ Cory Emmerton, right, celebrates his first goal of the first period as Los Angeles Kings’ Trevor Lewis, left, skates away during an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Detroit. Emmerton scored two of the Red Wings four goals in the first period. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

AP

Another day, another Red Wing signing overseas.

This time it’s forward Cory Emmerton -- the 24-year-old has agreed to terms with SM-liiga team SaiPa, according to the team website.

Emmerton broke into the Detroit lineup on a full-time basis in 2011-12, appearing in 71 games while recording 6G-4A-10PTS. He also scored his first-ever NHL playoff goal in the Red Wings’ opening-round loss to the Nashville Predators.

The strong freshman campaign earned Emmerton high praise; he was named the 2011-12 Red Wings’ Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.

In Finland, Emmerton will join a SaiPa team light on NHL experience. The team is predominantly built around European league veterans but does feature Brian Salcido, a former Anaheim prospect who played briefly for the Ducks during the 2008-09 season.

Emmerton also becomes the 10th Red Wing to sign overseas during the lockout. The others are Henrik Zetterberg (Switzerland), Damien Brunner (Switzerland), Pavel Datsyuk (KHL), Valtteri Filppula (Finland), Jakub Kindl (Czech Extraliga), Jan Mursak (Austria), Tomas Tatar (Slovak Extraliga) and Jonathan Ericsson (Swedish third division).