Top 25 Red Wings Prospects of 2019: #3 Joseph Veleno

The 2018 NHL draft provided gift after gift for the Detroit Red Wings. After a bit of a shock fall to six, Filip Zadina was set to be the value pick of the first round. That was until the Detroit Red Wings seemed to outdo themselves. With the 30th overall pick, they selected Joseph Veleno. The former Exceptional Status player in the QMJHL was among most analysts top-15 prospects for the 2018 Draft, he fell into the Red Wings lap giving them two of the biggest steals of the first round, bolstering their offensive prospect cupboards within a single evening.

Veleno went into last year and was set on not just being among the league leaders in points, but he wanted to lead the QMJHL in scoring. While he didn’t finish the year with the outright lead, Veleno was fourth, he did lead the league in points-per-game. Due to playing 9 fewer games than the top scorer and two fewer than the 2020 draft-eligible phenom (and future Red Wing?) Alexis Lafreniere, Veleno finished with 1.763 points-per-game. Showing himself ready to take the next step, Veleno will be in camp knowing that he will be playing pro hockey. The only question is whether it will be in Detroit or in Grand Rapids with the Griffins.

As previously stated, Veleno was granted Exceptional Status by Hockey Canada and the CHL which allowed him to play in the QMJHL as a 15-year-old. This was the first time the exception was granted in the QMJHL and Veleno didn’t disappoint. He put forth a strong rookie season. He started his junior career with the St. Johns Sea Dogs where he put up 43 points in 65 games often playing against players four or five years his elder. The young center sputtered a bit in an injury-shortened sophomore campaign. In the midst of a solid NHL draft season, the Sea Dogs captain was traded to the Drummondville Voltigeurs where he would go on to hit another gear. He went on to post 48 points in just 33 games after the trade which helped further improve his stock among public draft evaluators such as Dobber Prospects, Future Considerations, and TSN’s Bob McKenzie. Despite the public perception of Veleno being a top-15 talent, he tumbled down the board and the Wings were salivating when their pick came up at number 30 with Veleno still on the board.

Veleno’s draft+1 season was a resounding success. Posting 104 points in 59 games as well as playing for the Canadian squad at the World Juniors, despite a disappointing result for the Canadians. Veleno was a star all year in Drummondville. Leading the league in points-per-game and improving on his defensive game as the year progressed, Veleno proved himself to be one of the most promising prospects outside of the NHL. He became one of the strongest two-way players across Canadian junior hockey. He proved that although there was a bit of a lull in the middle of his junior career, the Red Wings prospect deserved to be granted the Exceptional Status.

To best analyze and evaluate a player, we will go through a series of videos that were clipped from videos that are courtesy of the QMJHL and Hockey Canada. We will look at various aspects of his game defensively, offensively and in transition. Looking at both where he excels and needs work, the following videos will aid in fully understanding who Joe Veleno is as a player.

Below we see the puck bounce to the left circle in the offensive zone off of the faceoff. This is when Veleno (#90 in red) jumps on the loose puck, beating his opponent to the puck with his excellent skating. Upon regaining possession of the puck, Veleno recognizes the open player going to the net. He quickly fires a Royal Road pass to the players attacking the net which results in a goal. This play shows the excellent visions and awareness that Veleno regularly displays in the offensive zone.

In the next clip, Veleno (#9 in red) records an assist on a goal at the World Junior Summer Showcase this past July. The play begins with a breakout through the neutral zone where Veleno is the trailing third forward. As the play breaks into the offensive zone, Veleno receives a touch pass for Alexis Lafreniere and then shows patience, waiting for the defenders to show their hand before sliding a pass just above the crease for a backdoor tap in for Chicago Blackhawks prospect, Kirby Dach. Veleno’s ability to change speeds and then take him time, not rushing a pass, which results in a higher percentage play.

Below we see Veleno (#90 in red) score a goal with an absolute bullet of a shot. He attacks the zone, cruising into the slot with speed and a wide base to ensure he can’t be pushed off the puck. Recognizing that the Halifax defensive coverage was all on the right side of the ice, he skates from the right point to the slot. This allows his teammate to pass him the puck as he entered the zone and goes to the net aggressively before ripping a shot from between the dots.

The following video is a short clip that shows Veleno’s edge work. He changes direction with ease and efficiency. Veleno (#9 in blue) uses his high-level skating to create separation and space for himself to make a play.

Next, we take a look at Veleno on the penalty kill. He is a good penalty killer who tries to push the pace and create offense, even when down a man. Generally, this is a skill that needs refining because players can often choose the wrong time to take the risk, leaving their team down another man on an offensive opportunity for his opponents. In this video, we see Veleno (#90 in Red/White) disrupting his opponent’s transition. This creates a turnover which is then immediately pushed up ice to Veleno who immediately puts a touch pass on his fellow penalty killers stick after he recognizes that his teammate is moving up the ice while Veleno was at a standstill. Once into the zone, the penalty killers create a chance offensively that results in a short-handed goal with the assist going to Veleno.

Defensively, Veleno is a very strong player. He improved his consistency throughout last season. In the following clip, he is the forward in the middle of the ice and then collapses towards the net as the play gets low in the zone. There he covers the front of the net breaking up slot pass which creates a short-handed rush. His skating is better than most players at the junior level. As you can see, as soon as the young center breaks up the pass, he gets on his horse and pulls away from the opposition to get into position to help create a high-danger chance.  Veleno has learned that his defensive positioning can lead to offensive chances. This was a key area that he needed to improve on throughout his draft+1 season.

Joe Veleno is one of the best prospects across the NHL. He was 33rd (behind only Zadina among Red Wings) on Scott Wheeler’s Top 50 Drafted Prospects. Veleno is a two-way center with a high-end offensive upside. He may not have the elite offensive tools that a player like Zadina possesses but Veleno projects as a high-impact second-line center. He skates extremely well, using his edges and quick acceleration to blow by defenders and create space for himself. He understands where the dangerous areas on the ice and he finds those areas offensively and defensively. He understands the game at a very high level.

His offensive skill-set allows him to act as both a scoring threat and a playmaker. This unique ability to fill both roles will allow the young Canadian to play with a variety of linemates and excel. His vision and playmaking are among the best in the Red Wings system and his shot has improved every year. It’s now heavier, harder and more accurate. That progression bodes well for Veleno. He still needs time to develop further, getting stronger and adjusting to the pace of professional hockey but the physical tools are there and his mental makeup is solid. He is defensively responsible and offensively dangerous. He skates like the wind and has a solid base that prevents him from being knocked off the puck. The 2018 30th overall draft choice has exceeded expectations despite falling in his draft. He has proven that the rest of the league taking a pass on him was a mistake and that he could be among the top 10-15 players from that draft class when all is said and done.

Veleno, on raw skills alone, could probably make the Red Wings lineup and realistically be their second-best center behind (future captain) Dylan Larkin. While that is unlikely to happen with the presence of veterans Valtteri Filppula and Frans Nielson, Veleno will be a pro this year after dominating the QMJHL last season. He will likely stick n Grand Rapids, playing top-six minutes, getting the opportunity to learn and grow. The powerplay and penalty kill time that Veleno receives at the AHL level will help prepare him to fill those roles with the big club should a call-up come to fruition. He should have a solid season with the Griffins and set the stage for him to make the Red Wings roster as soon as training camp next summer. When he does get his shot, he will almost assuredly be ready and able to take on a second-line role for Detroit, bolstering their young talent down the middle.

The former Drummondville star is being dealt with patiently by the Red Wings, which isn’t a new concept for Detroit by any means. He is being allowed to over-marinate just enough in junior and soon the AHL so that when he comes to the Red Wings lineup, he won’t be yo-yo’d from the NHL to the AHL and back again. This season he is likely to get a short stint call-up similar to Zadina last season, but after playing his nine games, probably at the end of the year, he will finish the season in Grand Rapids. Next season should be his full arrival in the NHL. After that, he will be here to stay. His 200-foot efficiency and his dangerous and versatile offensive skill-set will allow Veleno to immediately jump into the lineup and make an impact.