Tyler Motte will serve as a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Veleno to make his return from a one-game absence. The 24-year-old Veleno is averaging 11:14 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in 13 games this season.
Veleno has served primarily as a bottom-6 centre for the Red Wings over the last three seasons. 2023-24 was his best offensive season to date, scoring 12 goals with 16 assists (28 points) in 80 games. Expect Veleno to continue operating in a similar role in 2024-25.
Veleno played 14:07 time-on-ice on Saturday but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point that will keep him out of the lineup on Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 23-year-old centerman has four points (1G / 3A), a -10 plus/minus, and 15 shots in his last eight games.
Veleno had nine goals, 11 assists, 30 PIMs, 85 SOG, and a -12 plus/minus through 81 games with the Red Wings in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $825,000 extension Wednesday. The 23-year-old was Detroit's 2018 first-round pick (30th overall) and has picked up 18 goals, 36 points, and 166 SOG through 152 career NHL games across three seasons.
Veleno suffered an upper-body injury in Wednesday's win over the Blues. He was not available for Friday's practice and head coach Jeff Blashill doesn't expect him to be available for Saturday's game vs. the Sabres.
With Mitchell Stephens landing on IR with a lower-body injury, Veleno has been recalled for the Red Wings' four-game road trip. Veleno has one goal and one assist in four games with the Red Wings this season and three goals in seven AHL games.
Veleno has scored three goals in five games with Grand Rapids this season. The 21-year-old centre could make his season debut on Saturday because Tyler Bertuzzi is ineligible to travel to Toronto. Celeno has one goal in five career NHL games.
Veleno selected No.30 overall in 2018 and will centre the third line in his debut on Tuesday. The 21-year-old had 11 goals and 12 assists (23 points) in 54 AHL games in 2020. In 2021, he stayed in Sweden after the delayed start in North America due to COVID-19, scoring 11 goals with nine assists (20 points) in 46 games with the Malmo Redhawks (SHL).
Veleno was loaned to Team Canada for the World Juniors and scored one goal with five assists in six games en route to winning a gold medal. The 19-year-old now heads back to the AHL, where he has amassed 12 points (5G / 7A) in 29 games as a rookie.
Veleno dropped to the Red Wings in last summer’s draft, where he was selected No.30 overall. Veleno dominated the QMJHL where he was third in the league in assists (62), fourth in points (104) and seventh in goals (42). Veleno will have an opportunity to make the Red Wings out of training camp but could head to Grand Rapids (AHL) for some extra seasoning.
