Joe Veleno is positioned to take on a significant role with the New York Rangers. The team signed him to a one-year contract worth $1.2 million during the offseason, seeking a player eager to expand his influence on the ice. Coming off a season with the Montreal Canadiens where he played 61 games, Veleno was looking for more responsibility, and the Rangers offered him that opportunity.
Veleno explained that his decision to join the Rangers was driven by the chance to have a larger role and be part of a competitive team. He acknowledged Montreal’s success and the deep playoff run they experienced but emphasized that the Rangers’ roster depth and potential made the team appealing. “There’s a lot of potential here; I see a good opportunity to be competitive and push for a playoff spot, which makes it exciting,” he added.
Though highly regarded for his offensive potential during his draft year in 2018, when the Detroit Red Wings selected him in the first round, Veleno has yet to fully showcase that aspect at the NHL level. However, he made strides in his two-way game during his recent season with Montreal, contributing significantly on penalty kill units. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis gained trust in Veleno’s defensive play, which helped expand his role on the team.
Veleno reflected that despite disappointing offensive numbers last season, earning the coach’s trust and realizing his role was vital. He took pride in his penalty-killing responsibilities, especially in areas like physicality and defensive support—traits he hopes to carry over to the Rangers, aiming to become a key player on the penalty kill.
In addition to his improved defensive skills, Veleno also demonstrated reliability in faceoffs, achieving his career-high faceoff win percentage of 51.6%. With the Rangers aiming to optimize their top-line players offensively, head coach Mike Sullivan is looking to utilize bottom-six forwards like Veleno in tougher defensive matchups, giving star players a better chance to excel offensively.
In training camp, Veleno has secured the role of fourth-line center, playing alongside Tye Kartye. The practices suggest he is likely to keep that spot, a role previously held by Sam Carrick before his trade. Sullivan plans to utilize Veleno similarly to how St. Louis did in Montreal, where he played a pivotal role in penalty killing and matched up against top opponents when needed. Sullivan praised Veleno’s skating and size as key attributes that will allow him to handle defensive situations effectively and expressed enthusiasm about his potential contributions.
Fan Take: This development is exciting because Veleno’s versatility and two-way play can be a game-changer for the Rangers’ depth, especially if he can excel in shutdown situations and penalty killing. For hockey fans, seeing players develop and take on more responsibility at the NHL level keeps the sport dynamic and unpredictable, heightening anticipation for the season ahead.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
