DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills offers a few more quotes from Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s press conference held with the media on Tuesday, and Mills closes with an interesting set of comments made about the potential performance of one Joe Veleno, and young players in general:
Forward Joe Veleno is another player who Yzerman is counting on to contribute this season. Veleno is coming off his first full campaign in Detroit in 2022-23, and the 23-year-old forward re-signed a one-year contract with the club on Aug. 22.
“He had 20 points last year,” Yzerman said about Veleno. “I’d like him to improve upon that total. But saying that, I don’t want him focused on going out and scoring. He’s predominately a centerman but can play the wing.
“I’d like to see him potentially take on a bigger role on the penalty kill. He’ll have to earn that. Maybe find a spot on the power play somewhere, just play more minutes and a bigger role for us. Joe is a young guy. He works really hard, is very quiet and a respectful young man. I’m counting on him to take another step this year and just be a more impactful player.”
Player development is critical to future success for the Red Wings and their American Hockey League-affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, according to Yzerman.
“We want our young players to play, even at the American-League level,” Yzerman said. “If they can’t keep up or help you win, they’re probably not ready to play at that level so you got to find somewhere else for them to play. As much as we can say, ‘Hey, just play the young guys,’ they got to be able to contribute a little bit. That’s why it’s important to have an affiliate in the East Coast League, or you send them back to juniors or Europe. But ideally, you have your young players play a significant role in the minors and improving as players.”
