Red Wings pick Joe Veleno 30th overall

The Detroit Red Wings picked Joe Veleno 30th overall at the 2018 NHL draft.

Update: Here’s the Free Press’s Helene St. James on Veleno:

With their second first-round selection, 30th overall, in the 2018 NHL draft, the Detroit Red Wings chose center Joe Veleno on Friday night.

The pick was one of three acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Tomas Tatar trade in February.

Regarded as one of the top centers available, Veleno, 18, is a terrific playmaker who finished season with 11 points in 10 playoff games with Drummondville (QMJHL).

He was projected to go 16th in my final mock draft.

Earlier, the Wings picked forward Filip Zadina sixth overall.

Veleno was given exceptional player status, which allowed him to enter the Canadian Hockey League as a 15 year old, only the fifth player ever to earn that distinction.

Also, from MLive’s Ansar Khan:

Joe Veleno was projected to be selected midway through the first round of the NHL draft Friday, if not higher.

He likely is disappointed to be the second-to-last pick in the opening round, but the Detroit Red Wings are not. The Red Wings selected the two-way center from Dummondville (QMJHL) with the 30th pick at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Veleno (6-1, 191) collected 22 goals and 57 assists in 64 games between Saint John and Drummondville.

This what Red Line Report said of Veleno: “Slick and creative puck-handler is a traditional playmaking center. Sees the ice extremely well and gets the puck to his linemates in good scoring position. Able to make delicate touch passes off both sides of the blade. Reads and anticipates developing plays and gets to the right spots early. Has excellent stop-and-go ability to shake loose from defenders and get out of scrums with the puck. Has a very poor shot and will not score on NHL netminders. Tends to telegraph his shot and needs to improve both the power and his release. Plays a mature, advanced two-way game and is responsible in his defensive assignments. Great character kid with strong leadership skills. Highly coachable and will fill whatever role is asked of him. Victim of overly high expectations as the QMJHL’s first ‘exceptional status’ player. Ceiling may not be as high as once thought, but low bust potential.”

Here’s NHL.com:

• Veleno posted 6-25—31 in 31 GP as captain of Saint John in 2017-18 before a mid-season trade to Drummondville (16-32—48 in 33 GP). His 57 assists overall were tied for the third-most in the QMJHL, trailing only Alex Barre-Boulet (63) and Vitalii Abramov (59). He added 5-6—11 in the 2018 QMJHL Playoffs (10 GP), including scoring the series-clinching goal in Game 5 of the First Round against Cape Breton.

• He was a member of Saint John’s President Cup-winning team in 2017, recording 8-3—11 in 18 playoff games en route to a QMJHL championship. At the 2017 Memorial Cup, Veleno produced at a point-per-game pace (3-1—4 in 4 GP) before the Sea Dogs bowed out in the semi-finals.

• Veleno was selected first overall in the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft after becoming the fifth player to be granted Exceptional Player Status by Hockey Canada, allowing him to play major junior hockey as a 15-year-old. The others: John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid and Sean Day.

• Internationally, Veleno represented Canada at the 2018 Under-18 World Championship (0-3—3 in 4 GP) and captained his country to a gold medal at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial (2-5—7 in 5 GP).

• Models his style of play after Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews.

Here’s The Athletic’s Corey Pronman:

30. Detroit Red Wings: Joseph Veleno

Center, Drummondville-QMJHL

Jan. 13, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 193 pounds

Veleno is an excellent skater and he gets up to top speed quite easily with a powerful stride. Veleno works hard and plays a powerful style on the puck without taking many bad penalties. I don’t think he’s a dynamic playmaker, but he’s certainly above-average with the puck and can flash a tier higher. I like his puck skills, he’s a very smart player and he can consistently make above-average plays. While his shot/finishing ability is a bit worrying, Veleno has the speed, skills, smarts and physicality to be a very good playmaker and zone entry artist as an NHLer, combined with being a reliable two-way center.

Pronman’s take: Veleno fell because scouts in the industry don’t believe in his skill level. I don’t think he has high-end skill, but I believe he has offense to him and can make plays. For me, this was very good value for the Wings. He’s in the same category of prospect as Michael Rasmussen, who they picked in the top 10 last year.

Update #2: From the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:

JOE VELENO

Pick: No. 30 overall (Round 1)

Position: Center

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 195 pounds

Last season: Drummondville (QMJHL), 64 games, 22 goals, 57 assists, 79 points.

Scouting report: Projected to be a drafted somewhere in the 10-15 range, Veleno dropped to the Red Wings at 30. Looking for defensemen, the Wings couldn’t pass on Veleno. He began playing in the Quebec junior league at age 15, but never really matched the hype or expectations that were placed on him. A good playmaker, scouts also love his character and leadership qualities.

Per Michigan Hockey on YouTube:

Of note from the Sporting News’s Steve Kournianos:

6. Detroit Red Wings — Filip Zadina, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

The Red Wings really needed a puck mover who can run their power play, but Filip Zadina is an elite forward they simply couldnt pass up. This kid fills the net and competes hard in all three zones. A real leader and sets a great example. Grade: A

…

30. Detroit Red Wings (via Golden Knights) — Joe Veleno, C, Drummondville (QMJHL)

About time a team woke up and took the draft’s fastest center, except Veleno is a premier playmaker who busts it from start to finish. Mark my words — he will be one of the better NHL players to come out of this draft. Grade: A

Here’s the Red Wings’ press release:

RED WINGS ADD JOE VELENO WITH 30TH OVERALL PICK IN 2018 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
… Center Ranked 10th in QMJHL Scoring with Saint John and Drummondville in 2017-18 …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today selected center Joe Veleno in the first round (30th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Veleno is an 18-year-old center from Kirkland, Quebec, who split the 2017-18 campaign between the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Saint John Sea Dogs and Drummondville Voltigeurs. Veleno served as captain of the Sea Dogs and produced 31 points (6-25-31) in 31 games prior to being acquired by the Voltigeurs, where he racked up 48 points (16-32-48) in 33 games. His 79 combined points (22-57-79) ranked 10th in the QMJHL, just three spots behind Filip Zadina, who Detroit took with the sixth overall pick in the draft, and he tied for third in the league in assists. The 6-foot-1, 191-pound forward also tied for the team lead with 11 points (5-6-11) in 10 playoff games.

Veleno has logged three seasons in the QMJHL, as he was just the fifth player in the history of the Canadian Hockey League (along with John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid and Sean Day) to be granted Exceptional Player Status by Hockey Canada, allowing him to play major junior hockey as a 15-year-old. In 171 QMJHL games, he has produced 162 points (48-114-162). He won a QMJHL championship with Saint John in 2016-17, logging 40 points (13-27-40) in 45 regular-season games, 11 points (8-3-11) in 18 playoff games and four points (3-1-4) in four CHL Memorial Cup games.

On the international stage, Veleno has made several appearances for Canada, highlighted by a gold medal win at this season’s Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, in which he served as captain and paced the team with seven points (2-5-7) in five games. He also logged three points (0-3-3) in four games at the 2018 World Under-18 Championship and four points (1-3-4) for Canada Black at the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

The 2018 NHL Entry Draft marks the first time that the Red Wings have picked twice in the first round since 1978. Detroit currently has nine selections for the second day of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft: two in the second round (33rd and 36th), three in the third round (67th, 81st and 84th), one in the fourth round (98th), two in the sixth round (159th and 160th) and one in the seventh round (191st).

Joe Veleno, Center
Born Jan 13 2000  — Kirkland, PQ
Height 6.01 — Weight 191 — Shoots L

Selected by Detroit Red Wings round 1 #30 overall 2018 NHL Entry Draft

— Regular Season —  —- Playoffs —-
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
————————————————————————————–
2015-16  Saint John Sea Dogs         QMJHL  62   13   30   43   21  17   6   1   7   8
2016-17  Saint John Sea Dogs         QMJHL  45   13   27   40   18  18   8   3  11   4
2017-18  Saint John Sea Dogs         QMJHL  31    6   25   31   26  —  —  —  —  —
2017-18  Drummondville Voltigeurs    QMJHL  33   16   32   48   22  10   5   6  11  10
————————————————————————————–

Here’s St. James on Veleno:

“We had him extremely high on the board,” director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright said Friday night. “I don’t want to do a lot of comparisons but he skates a lot like Dylan Larkin. He plays the game kind of like Dylan Larkin. I don’t want to compare him to Larkin, but he fits the mold of what we’re trying to accomplish. We want to be fast, we want to be competitive, and we want to produce more offense.”

The pick was one of three acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Tomas Tatar trade in February.

Veleno had been projected to go around 15, regarded as one of the top centers available. He split 2017-18 between Saint John and Drumondville in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, combining for 22 goals and 57 assists for 79 points, just three points behind Zadina’s 82. The 6-foot-1, 191-pound forward tied for the Drummondville team-lead with 11 points in 10 playoff games.

“I’m a two-way forward who can bring some offense, who can be responsible in my own end, play in all situations — penalty kill, power play,” Veleno said. “Be a leader. Work hard on the ice.

“They saw something in me to pick me so I am going to bring whatever I can to the team and work as hard as I can to play on that roster. I’m a competitive person and I’ve always had that attitude, to be the best. I’ve worked my whole life for this. I know I have a lot of potential and I know I have a lot more to give. I’m really excited for myself.”

Here’s Tyler Wright after the first round, via St. James:

Here’s a bit more from the Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa:

Veleno is out of Montreal, and if the stereotype of touted forwards from that geography is about pace and offensive skill, then he certainly fits the bill.

But he plays defensively, too. A frequent description of Veleno is “all-around player.”

He “fell” considerably farther in the draft than Zadina, and the Red Wings were no less pleased.

“Yeah, we were surprised,” Holland told NBCSN of the Wings good fortune. “We thought Zadina was going to go in the top five, and we’re certainly thrilled to get him. He’s a guy who can score. We always need more scoring. And, Joe Veleno’s got great speed. We thought he would go in the league early, so we’re excited to get him. Great draft for us, so far.”

As for nine picks over the last rounds, beginning Saturday, Holland said, “We want to get some D, at some point in time. But we just know we couldn’t pass these forwards up.”

On video, from the Detroit News:

Tyler Wright, amateur scouting director, discusses Red Wings’ first round from The Detroit News on Vimeo.

Here’s WXYZ’s Brad Galli with Veleno:

From ESPN’s Chris Peters:

30. Detroit Red Wings: Joseph Veleno, C, Drummondville (QMJHL)

Draft board ranking: 11

Age: 18 | Shoots: L | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 193 | Nat: CAN
64 GP | 22 G | 57 A

Scouting report: The best way to describe Veleno is probably “well-rounded.” He’s not truly elite at any one thing, but he’s effective in all zones, strong on the puck and committed to playing strong defensively. Veleno’s offensive skills are also strong, highlighted primarily by quick hands and some shiftiness. He also protects the puck with a strong frame and powerful skating. For as skilled as Veleno is, he has a strong defensive work ethic. I think one of the biggest questions surrounding Veleno is his year-to-year progression after being granted exceptional status to enter the QMJHL a year early. He hasn’t taken remarkably big steps forward as a player, which makes me wonder about his overall upside, but the level he’s playing at now as a center and the versatility he brings to the table are why I ranked him a bit higher.

Team fit: It was a long wait for Veleno, who fell much further than anyone expected, but that was good news for the Red Wings. I think there are legitimate concerns about his overall upside given his lack of substantial progression in the QMJHL. That said, he has some really good skill and I think his two-way game is really strong. I still see him as a future middle-six center who can make an impact at both ends of the ice. It just might require a season or two in the AHL after his QMJHL career wraps up.

The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted an article about Veleno…

“We had him extremely high on the board,” director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright said Friday night. “I don’t want to do a lot of comparisons but he skates a lot like Dylan Larkin. He plays the game kind of like Dylan Larkin. I don’t want to compare him to Larkin, but he fits the mold of what we’re trying to accomplish. We want to be fast, we want to be competitive, and we want to produce more offense.”

The pick was one of three acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Tomas Tatar trade in February.

Veleno had been projected to go around 15, regarded as one of the top centers available. He split 2017-18 between Saint John and Drumondville in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, combining for 22 goals and 57 assists for 79 points, just three points behind Zadina’s 82. The 6-foot-1, 191-pound forward tied for the Drummondville team-lead with 11 points in 10 playoff games.

“I’m a two-way forward who can bring some offense, who can be responsible in my own end, play in all situations — penalty kill, power play,” Veleno said. “Be a leader. Work hard on the ice.

“They saw something in me to pick me so I am going to bring whatever I can to the team and work as hard as I can to play on that roster. I’m a competitive person and I’ve always had that attitude, to be the best. I’ve worked my whole life for this. I know I have a lot of potential and I know I have a lot more to give. I’m really excited for myself.”

As did DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji:

As Wright mentioned, Veleno was granted Exceptional Player Status by Hockey Canada, which allowed him to play major junior hockey at age 15. Only four other players in the Canadian Hockey League – John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid and Sean Day – received that status.

Although he admitted to a few nerves as the first round was drawing to a close, Veleno was not disappointed to be taken 30th.

“I just tried to stay patient,” Veleno said. “Anything can happen in the draft. You just got to stay patient at the end of the day. I got my family and friends here supporting me through those times. Anywhere I get picked, whatever rank, whatever team, it’s a dream come true to be drafted in the NHL.”

Veleno played for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Saint John Sea Dogs before being traded to the Drummondville Volitgeurs.

As captain of the Sea Dogs, Veleno had six goals among 31 points in 31 games before taking his offense to a new level, recording 16 goals among 48 points in 33 games for the Volitgeurs.

Mike Morreale of NHL.com had Veleno going 13th to Dallas in his mock draft.

“A fantastic playmaker who rediscovered his scoring touch in the second half with Drummondville after being traded there by Saint John, with 48 points in 33 games after the trade,” Morreale said. “He has a great work ethic, is willing to learn and plays with a lot of pace. He also has great leadership traits.”

Quoth The Sports Forecaster:

Scouting Report

Assets: Has projectable size and the ability to play a complete game in all three zones. Has excellent playmaking skills. Can be trusted in all game situations and with the contest on the line. Has good hockey sense and smarts.

Flaws: Needs to become more of a shooter in order to keep professional opponents honest, since he has a tendency to pass, pass and pass the puck a ton. Also needs to continue to add bulk and get physically stronger for the NHL.

Career Potential: Heady, talented two-way center and playmaker with upside.

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!

5 thoughts on “Red Wings pick Joe Veleno 30th overall”

  1. Veleno- good two way center, high end puck skills, great skater “amazing first two steps”, hard shot, a little too physical, ala hits from beind, boarding calls. Imo he’s larkin with a higher ceiling.

  3. Yes, they are very polarizing which is why he was availablr there. Watching the draft Mckenzie and Pierre both said that he lacked high end skill but is an amazing character guy. They projected him as a 3rd line center at best. Only time will tell if that’s correct but theybwefe high on hia character, not his skills. Nobody mentioned his skating there either. The projection was a top 9 two way center. Maybe the chip on hia shoulder will propel him to greatness.

  4. Mckenzie and Pierre felt that his lack of high end skill is why he was available at 30. They both said if a team is looling for a solid 3rd of 4th line center then he’s your guy. They loved his character but not his skills. The projection was a top 9 two way center. Holland seemed to feel differently. Only time will tell.

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