EMIL HEMMING

2025-08-17

Scout: Jeremy Vercillo

Skating:

Hemming is a good, but not elite skater. He doesn't have breakaway speed but has a good first step and quick reactions to often be the first man moving on a change of posession.

Passing/Handling:

Hemming has a deft touch on passes, and seems much move poised than when I watched him last season. He's good at making plays from tight spaces and getting the puck to a teammate with more space.

Shooting:

Hemming has a strong shot and a quick release. He's a good finisher in tight and off the rush.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

He's got good hockey sense on both sides of the puck. I think he's got the makings of an NHL player because of that.

Forechecking:

Hemming is good at winning puck battles but doesn't apply a ton of pressure in the traditional forechecking sense.

Defense:

I was really impressed with Hemming's defensive instincts. He backchecks hard and helps out down low. I think he's going to be a decent two-way/transitional guy in the NHL.

Best Asset:

Shot

Biggest Concern:

Nothing really stands out. He doesn't have a "wow" skill that will keep him in the top-6

Top Tier/Role Potential:

second-line, 1st PP sniper. 60ish points.

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

I don't see first line or point per game upside here, but he could settle into a secondary scoring role and be utilized often on special teams.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Bottom-6 two-way guy. 30-40 points, PP2 time, penalty kill, etc

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

I think he's trending more towards a nice complementary piece with potential for a long NHL career.

Stylistic Comparable:

Jakub Silfverberg

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

He's definitely matured as a player since I watched him last year, but hasn't popped in a scoring/skills sense yet.

Games Scouted:

2025 OHL Eastern Conf Final Game 4, 2025 WJC Semifinal, Ilves U20 v TPSU20 01/20/2024

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2025-01-02

Scout: Jeremy

Skating:

Hemming is a good skater who shows flashes of speed, but his agility is most impressive to me. He has quick stop-start for a big guy and uses that change of direction to win battles in tight spaces.

Passing/Handling:

Hemming has good puck handling skills and rarely loses it. His passing and vision could use some improvement though, as he often works himself into situations with no options. Many of his assists this year are him losing a puck and his teammate picking it up or just secondary assists (60%).

Shooting:

Hemming has a nice shot. It's his calling card, but it's not all-world. He's got both a quick release and a powerful one-timer.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

"As mentioned above, his panic meter may be a bit too low. He can stickhandle in a phone booth but sometimes holds on until he's out of options leading to a turnover or a useless pass.

Off the puck his offensive movement is incredible. He's always lurking somewhere open, and with a strong playmaking talent he could really blossom."

Forechecking:

I wish Hemming forechecked a bit harder. He constantly applies what I'd consider "light pressure", the type you see in a 3-on-3. He doesn't overcommit but rarely forces the issue or creates turnovers. With his speed and size, I think this needs to be worked on.

Defense:

His defensive zone play and positioning was fine for a forward. Nothing special, but not a wart in my opinion.

Best Asset:

Ability to find soft spots on offense

Biggest Concern:

Consistency. A lot of times it felt like he was playing at half speed or disappearing from games. When he had the puck on his stick, he was electric but might frustrate coaches and fans.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

70ish point scoring winger

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

If Hemming finds some consistency and elevates some of his secondary skills, he could make an impact for an NHL team. Luckily Dallas is a team that won't need to rush him through the minors.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Complementary middle-six/PP2 piece

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

None of the skills are really elite, so I think the expected outcome is to slowly work his way into a lineup, have flashes, but ultimately not be a star

Stylistic Comparable:

Conor Garland

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

I was also surprised to learn he was 6'2". He definitely gets worked over on the boards and in front of the net pretty often, and this is only in the OHL and not against men.

Games Scouted:

Two recent OHL games, and some WJC viewings while watching Finland play.