Both Hockeybuzz’s Bob Duff and The Athletic’s Max Bultman took note of Joe Veleno’s impressive performance over the course of the Red Wings’ prospect tournament and main training camp.
First, from Duff:
One player who has impressed and will get more chance to do so as the Wings open preseason play is center Joe Veleno.
“He’s been excellent for most of camp,” Blashill said. “Let’s keep watching him and see how he does, get the best feel we can.”
Taken 30th overall in last spring’s NHL entry draft, Veleno would be a tremendous longshot to stick with the big club, but since the departure of Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit’s short and long-term scenario in the middle has been dramatically altered.
“My question is, what is going to be the elite skill that will be transferable, and for me watching him on his edges he has elite edges,” Blashill said. “He knows how to control the puck, because he controls space with his edges and he can make a lot plays in tight. I think Veleno has showed very well.”
And among Max Bultman’s notes:
It’s too bad that Veleno isn’t AHL eligible, because he’s really impressed throughout camp, aside from his brief absence due to injury. It sounds like he’ll play with Rasmussen and Abdelkader Wednesday night, and Tuesday Blashill said Veleno had an “unreal camp.”
Perhaps the more interesting Blashill quote on Veleno came after the Red & White game: “My question has been, what’s the elite skill that’s going to be transferable? And then today for me, watching him on his edges, he’s got elite edges. He controls the puck because he controls space with his edges. Excellent. He can make lots of plays in tight. So, I think Veleno’s showed very well. I’m hoping to get him a couple exhibition games.”
That Veleno has good edges won’t be news to those who have seen him skate much, but he’s clearly made an impression on the head man. He’s already one of the more well-regarded prospects in the organization, but that arrow could point even further upward if he continues his recent play over the next two weeks.
Bultman continues (paywall)…
