After taking a top-rated forward in Zadina, the Detroit Red Wings opted to take a chance on another possible top-rated forward who fell on the draft board. A team that was shooting to grab defensemen ended up leaving the first-round with two forwards.
The Red Wings selected Joe Veleno with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Keep in mind; the Red Wings did not necessarily trade up for him, when we traded Tomas Tatar we acquired the 30th overall pick as a return. Veleno is a 6’1, 191lb left-handed shooting center. Just like Zadina, Veleno participated in the 2019 WJC for Team Canada where he notched 2 assists in 5 games.
Veleno has been making some noise, not at the NHL or AHL level, but he has been putting up some serious numbers in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Veleno has 41 goals, 58 assists for 99 points through 53 games for the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL.
Veleno was initially projected to be a top ten pick in the draft, but he fell later to when the Red Wings scooped him up. This pick was huge for them to be able to add two supposed top ten players to their organization even if the focus was supposed to be on defensemen.
As Octopus Thrower Site Expert Bob Heyrman recently wrote that even though Veleno may be at the QMJHL level, he is a serious threat to make this roster come training camp next season. This may be a bit much looking ahead into next year right now, but the 19-year old is third in the QMJHL in points and could definitely be a real threat in the coming years.
This kid has shown a lot more than Zadina has, however, Veleno is at a different level of hockey and may experience some growing pains when he moves to the next levels and the caliber of play changes. It is normal for players to go through this, and most players do but look out for Veleno to have a great impact on the Red Wings shortly.