Joe Veleno

Last updated

Joe Veleno
Born (2000-01-13) January 13, 2000 (age 25)
Kirkland, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Chicago Blackhawks
Malmö Redhawks
Detroit Red Wings
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
NHL draft 30th overall, 2018
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2019present

Joseph Veleno (born January 13, 2000) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 30th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 NHL entry draft.

Contents

Playing career

On June 4, 2015, Veleno became the first player from Quebec to be granted exceptional player status allowing him to play as a 15-year old in major junior hockey [1] which led to him being selected 1st overall in the 2015 QMJHL draft by the Saint John Sea Dogs on June 7, 2015. [2] He is the fifth player to be granted exceptional status, with the preceding four being John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, and Sean Day.

On December 8, 2017, it was announced that Veleno had been traded to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in exchange for three first-round selections (in 2018, 2019 and 2020) and two second-round selections in the QMJHL draft. [3] and ended the season with 79 points in 64 games.

Veleno was selected in the first round 30th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 NHL entry draft. uring the 2018–19 QMJHL season, in just 59 games with Drummondville, he produced 42 goals and 62 assists for a 104 total points, helping the Voltigeurs reach the semi-finals of the QMJHL playoffs, when he produced a further 8 goals and 9 assists in 16 games.

On May 1, 2019, Veleno signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings. [4]

He did not make the Red Wings roster out of training camp, and began the 2019–20 season with the Wings AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

With the 2020–21 NHL season delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the possibility of an AHL season in doubt, Veleno was loaned to Swedish club, the Malmö Redhawks for the 2020–21 season. Due to Swedish Hockey League rules, he was ineligible to return to North America until the Redhawks season concluded. [5] In 46 appearances with the Redhawks, Veleno contributed with 11 goals and 20 points, before ending his loan in Sweden to be reassigned by the Red Wings to the Grand Rapids Griffins on April 10, 2021.

Veleno made his NHL debut for the Red Wings against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 27, 2021. [6] On March 7, 2025, Veleno was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Petr Mrázek and Craig Smith. Prior to being traded he appeared in 56 games for the Red Wings during the 2024–25 season and recorded five goals and five assists. [7]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 Finland/Latvia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2020 Czech Republic
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 Czech Republic/Slovakia

From 2015-18 Veleno played for Canada at under-17 and under-18 levels. He was selected to represent Canada at junior (under-20) level in the 2019 World Junior Championship, where he recorded two assists in five games. He returned for the 2020 edition, scoring one goal and five assists in six games; Canada won the gold medal.

Veleno made his debut for the full Canada team at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded three goals and two assists in five games. During a game at the tournament against Switzerland, Veleno stamped on Swiss player Nino Niederreiter's calf with his skate blade. The referees did not issue a penalty, but a later disciplinary hearing suspended Veleno for five games. [8]

Personal life

Veleno is of Italian descent. [9] He was born in Kirkland, Quebec and still lives there in the offseason. [10] His favourite team as a child was the Washington Capitals and his favorite player was Alexander Ovechkin. [11] In addition to hockey, Veleno also played soccer and lacrosse as a child. He is fluent in English, French, and Italian. [10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2014–15Lac St-Louis Lions QMAAA 41163652571222412
2015–16 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 6213304321176178
2016–17 Saint John Sea DogsQMJHL45132740181883114
2017–18 Saint John Sea DogsQMJHL316253126
2017–18 Drummondville Voltigeurs QMJHL331632482210561110
2018–19 Drummondville VoltigeursQMJHL5942621041916891712
2019–20 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 5411122318
2020–21 Malmö Redhawks SHL 461192020
2020–21 Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL41234
2020–21 Detroit Red Wings NHL 51014
2021–22 Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL1164104
2021–22 Detroit Red WingsNHL66871522
2022–23 Detroit Red WingsNHL819112030
2023–24 Detroit Red WingsNHL8012162825
2024–25 Detroit Red WingsNHL56551013
SHL totals461192020
NHL totals28835397494

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2015 Canada Black U17 8th51346
2016 Canada IH18 5th40442
2017 CanadaIH18Gold medal icon.svg52578
2018 Canada U18 5th40330
2019 Canada WJC 6th50220
2020 CanadaWJCGold medal icon.svg61568
2023 Canada WC Gold medal icon.svg53252
Junior totals294222624
Senior totals52352

References

  1. "2015 QMJHL Draft Preview: Veleno declared exceptional status, likely to be taken first". Yahoo Sports. June 5, 2015.
  2. "Saint John Sea Dogs take Joseph Veleno 1st overall at QMJHL draft". CBC News. June 7, 2015.
  3. "Saint John Sea Dogs trade Joe Veleno to Drummondville". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  4. Kujawa, Kyle (May 1, 2019). "Red Wings sign 2018 first-round pick Joe Veleno". NHL.com. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  5. "Red Wings' prospect Joe Veleno loaned to Swedish club for 2020-21 season". mlive. October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  6. "Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets - Box Score - April 27, 2021".
  7. "RELEASE: Blackhawks Acquire Joe Veleno from Red Wings". NHL.com. March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  8. "IIHF - Canada's Joe Veleno Suspended".
  9. "Joseph Veleno, un véritable poison". Info07 (in French). Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Joe Veleno". Grand Rapids Griffins. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  11. "Cowan: Kirkland phenom Joe Veleno shows polish on way to Memorial Cup". Montreal Gazette. May 18, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Detroit Red Wings firs round draft pick
2018
Succeeded by