The Detroit Red Wings are hoping that their team can keep making strides moving forward and be a competitor. There were glimpses of a competing team in 2022-23; the Red Wings just need to see their competitive window open up.
One of the Detroit Red Wings players that the team has to be thinking can keep getting better is Joe Veleno. The 23-year-old forward was in his third season as a part of the Red Wings this year. He showed some strides and moved in the right direction; he needs to keep making said strides.
For the Red Wings, Veleno needs to continue to refine his game after doing a pretty good job of defining his role with the Red Wings during the 2022-23 season. The left-handed shooting forward has settled in as a bottom-six center and started to show that he can benefit Detroit.
He may not be the player the Red Wings had assumed he was going to be early on in his career after being drafted in the first round, but at this point, he has shown that he can bring value to the Red Wings, which is what the team is looking for.
Detroit Red Wings forward Joe Veleno is looking to keep showing growth.
In 2022-23, Joe Veleno surpassed career-best numbers at the NHL level, getting himself in the right spot. Veleno played in 81 games in 2022-23, scoring nine goals and adding 11 assists for 20 points.
On another note, he just looked more like a complete player this season. He started to shine on both ends of the ice and was able to tap into the scoring, which was nice to see. Even though it was only nine goals, seeing him set a career-best was still good.
Veleno just started to shine up the middle. Even if the goals and points were not aplenty, he played a complete game and, most of the time could be solid. On top of that, he was able to help with special teams.
He was on the power-play unit at times and even logged some time killing penalties, speaking again to his ability to provide benefit all over the ice. It was a good season for him as he settled in with the Red Wings in 2022-23.
The Red Wings are now hoping that he can continue to take steps. He needs to continue improving and developing things to become a better player. It seems simple and menial, but it’s true. Veleno had a great season; he needs to come out, keep moving in the right direction, and avoid any sort of regression.