The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they’ve signed center Joe Veleno to a one-year, one-way contract worth $ 900,000. Last season, Veleno would put up five goals and five assists for 10 points in 56 games with the Detroit Red Wings before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks at the NHL Trade Deadline. In 18 games with the Blackhawks, he would put up three goals and four assists for seven points. This is a cheap signing for a team that has been seeking to add a center all summer; however, I don’t believe the Habs are done shopping for a center. I would expect Veleno to be a bottom-six center for the Habs during the 2025-26 season.
Joe Veleno, 25, began his pro career with the Grand Rapids Griffins during the 2019-20 season after being selected by the Detroit Red Wings 30th overall in 2018. In 54 games, he would put up 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points. He would then spend the majority of the 2020-21 season in the SHL. He would put up 11 goals and nine assists in 20 games with the Malmö Redhawks. The Montreal, Quebec native would spend parts of the next five seasons with Detroit. In 288 games with the Red Wings, he would put up 35 goals and 39 assists for 74 points. His best season came in 2023-24, when he had 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points.
Veleno won a U20 World Junior Championship in 2020 and a World Championship in 2023 while representing Canada. He would average a point per game in both tournaments.
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