Red Wings prospect Joe Veleno spoke with Johan “Mr. Madhawk” Svensson after his first practice with the SHL’s Malmo Redhawks this morning, speaking with Kvallsposten regarding his adjustments to European hockey. What follows is roughly translated from Swedish:
“We don’t see much European hockey”
MALMO. Joe Veleno has arrived in Sweden. Detroit’s [second] choice in the 2018 draft is not with the Malmod Redhawks to be modest. On the contrary.
“I hope that my hockey IQ will be able to add a lot to this team, along with my skill and speed, says Joe Veleno.
The 20-year-old arrived in Sweden last Friday
The weekend has been spent turning around his bodyclock and gettting used to what will be his home for the next six months.
That wass the idea when Malmö Redhawks picked up Joe Veleno. The contract is written for the entire season.
The first practice has completed. It was the first time since March that Veleno practiced with a team.
“Nice to run a solid workout with a lot of skating after the long journey a couple of days ago.”
How do you feel?
“Of course it feels different [on the big ice]. You have much more time with the puck and more surface to cover. It requires that you have to skate and that you move your feet, “Veleno explains.
Even though he is only 20 years old, the feeling is that it is a stable player, with his feet on the ground that can move on larger ice.
Already as a minor hockey player, Joe Veleno made his debut in the Canadian junior league and he has also managed to win the QMHJL and Junior world championship for Canada.
Last season, he played in Grand Rapids in the AHL and was expected to be able to do more and fight for a jersey with Detroit this season. But the coronavirus uncertainty means that he will instead spend a full year in Sweden and the SHL.
“In Canada, we do not talk about or watch much European hockey at all. But I have friends who played here who say that the league is good,” says Veleno and the recurring thing is about adapting to to the big rink.
He as only played six matches before during the world junior championship in the Czech Republic. But he’s just learning.
Jesper Mattsson on Joe Veleno
Jesper Mattsson, who coaches the forwards on the Redhawks, believes Veleno’s a center that will be useful.
“He reads the game well, is a good defender. His strength is his playfulness. I get the feeling that he will figure it out gallantly. He is such a skilled skater,” says Mattsson.
During practice, Joe Veleno was paired with Jan-Mikael Järvinen and Eric Engstrand.
The idea is for him to debut against HV71 away on Thursday. Then it is also likely that he will get playing time on the power play.
“We’ll see where we slot him. But I’m convinced we’ll use him on the power play. We have some options,” says Jesper Mattsson.
The change means that Jan-Mikael Järvinen went out to the edge when the new center took place.
It’s a change Jesper Mattsson does not see any problems with.
“We saw chemistry between them directly. There is a lot of play behind the back, one-touch, etc. You can see that they move the rubber in a good way.”
“It’ll probably be fine. I hope my skill and speed will fit in well here. It was a great welcome and wonderful guys in the team, so it will be really fun to play a game on Thursday when we’ve gotten to have a few practices together,” says Joe Veleno.
Good read on Joe, eventually he will be a good two way center for the Wings.
Ras is always lost, at the rink, airport, foreign country and surely even at home. Usually I would say he will live or die by his weaknesses. Too bad a Mike Keenan type coach (in Europe) will try to get into his head (No Skates). He has all the physical attributes and a high pick but something is missing in his head and heart. It was obvious when he played in Junior , who scouted this guy???
I watched a lot of Raz’s games last last year and tried to concentrate almost solely on him when he was on the ice. What I saw was a player who was moving the play and not just a one trick pony, playing a tree in front of the goalie. For a big man, he can skate fairly well. I am a bit surprised he went to Austria verses Sweden to play in terms of quality of play there. Who vouched for him and Cholo are now no longer in the organization.
George, until I shared a email with Paul K, I had no idea you were back. Perhaps you could use the emails addresses you have acquired to let others know you are back in the business of keeping us informed. Good luck on your restart!