The Athletic’s Max Bultman has issued 11 observations from the Red Wings’ prospect tournament. Among them:
How do you start with anyone but Joe Veleno, after the Red Wings’ 2018 30th overall pick scored two crucial late goals to tie and then take the lead against Dallas in Tuesday’s final, then sprung a lead pass to Givani Smith on an insurance goal that became the eventual game-winner.
Veleno, after a summer of work in Detroit, arrived at the prospect tournament looking like a complete player and displayed a quick release that led him to seven goals for the tournament. Not only did that give him the tournament scoring title by a three-goal margin, it’s the most goals by a single player at the tournament since Pointstreak began tracking its stats in 2007. And that would still be true if you took away Veleno’s empty-netter on Monday against Toronto.
“We worked on trying to make his release quicker, we worked on trying to help him change the angle a little bit more and add a little bit more deception to his shot,” said Red Wings director of player development Shawn Horcoff on Monday morning. Player development consultant Brandon Naurato “was great with that — he’s very good in those instances — and I think it showed. He scored some really nice goals here so far.
“But I think the thing I liked the most: He looks more responsible positionally. He’s realizing now that he wants to turn himself into a 200-foot player. We showed him a lot of video clips of a young Larkin and last year’s Larkin, who’s carrying a load defensively. If we’re gonna win, we need Joe Veleno to be an outstanding 200-foot player. He looks more responsible. He’s finishing more checks. He’s got good size, he’s using his body more to his advantage, he’s penalty-killing, which is nice. So I think it’s more the defensive side of the game that we’re starting to see some growth as well, which is huge.”
Continued (paywall)
Time to put a Wrench to WingNut. Veleno is making you eat crow again. In the background , I told you so.
Veleno seems to be getting better as each game goes by. As I said before he has Larkin/Yzerman traits in his game.
Hope he gets experience in GR but he won’t be there long, IMO IMO.
The kid has worked hard and has a good head on his shoulders.
Great info provided throughout this tournament, George
Why would I be eating crow?
I love Veleno. I love the way he’s developing into a very well-rounded player.
But I also happen to believe that having a teenager jump straight from the Q to an 82-game NHL grind isn’t the best thing for his long-term development. Particularly to join a roster that is not going to compete for a Cup. And I happen to believe that Yzerman probably has the same mindset as me.
I think we’ll see Veleno get 9 games at some point. Maybe the first 9 games if we face a bunch of injuries, but more likely a 9-game audition later in the season.
I also wouldn’t put too much weight in this glorified scrimmage tournament. He scored a bunch of PP goals, and an empty-netter against a mix of AHL/ECHL competition. Doesn’t mean too much in the grand scheme of things. But maybe it does for you. Which is cool.
when our team lags in skill they double down on will. The cast of many characters played as the best team and never gave up.
That to me means Mr. Veleno will be wearing a red jersey as fast as Mr. Larkin did.
That to me means Mr. Veleno will be wearing a red jersey as fast
mtmatt
as Mr. Larkin did
I agree!!!
Wing NUTS
You really are NUTS, LMAO AHL/ECHL??? Can you read? Read the lineups. Did you watch any of the Games? It must be lonely being the only , whatever, that can not see players , skill, grit, etc
There must be a Block button on this site somewhere. No more Looney Tunes!!
I also wouldn’t put too much weight in this glorified scrimmage tournament. He scored a bunch of PP goals, and an empty-netter against a mix of AHL/ECHL competition. Doesn’t mean too much in the grand scheme of things. But maybe it does for you. Which is cool.
Yes. Most of the participants in this tournament will spend the upcoming year in the AHL, ECHL or equivalent European leagues. Some will spend their entire career there. Looking forward to Veleno going up against NHL players. That will happen by the very end of the pre-season. Too bad you find that so crazy…