Stars sign 2024 first-round selection to his ELC

The Dallas Stars have inked their first-round selection of the 2024 NHL Draft as the team announced they have signed defenseman Emil Hemming to a three-year entry-level contract. 

The contract is scheduled to start during the 2024-25 NHL season but the Stars organization has not indicated where Hemming will suit up next season.

Hemming is coming off his first professional season with TPS of the Finnish Liiga where he suited up in 40 games and scored seven goals and 11 points. The young defenseman also spent 13 games with TPS U20 in the U20 SM-sarja where he scored 11 goals and 18 points. 

Including all the defensive prospects available in the 2024 NHL Draft, Hemming arguably featured the best possible shot from the blue line.

The Vaasa, Finland native was electric on the international stage for Team Finland last year as he scored seven goals and 11 points in nine total contests for Team Finland’s U18 club and posted two goals and eight points in eight games for Team Finland’s U20 roster. 

Hemming should return to TPS for the 2024-25 season but may feature with the organization’s AHL club in Texas towards the end of next season.

Hemming has inherent value as a right-handed shot defenseman and could be a long-term complement to Finnish defenseman Miro Heiskanen on the Stars’ blue line. 

There is no question that Hemming’s shot is NHL-ready but he could use a few more years playing professionally to get accustomed to the speed and responsibility.