As the 2018 NHL Draft approaches, Joseph Veleno looks to prove he’s as exceptional as he was promised to be
The 2018 NHL Draft is a bit lacking in centers. Once you get past Brady Tkachuk and Oliver Wahlstrom (who might not stick at center), the talent level drops off a bit until you get to Joseph Veleno. However, he has the potential to be a difference maker in the NHL.
Veleno is literally an exceptional player. That’s what Hockey Canada declared him to be as a 15-year-old, allowing him to be drafted into a major junior league one year early. Only four other players have been granted that status – John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, and Sean Day.
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While he hasn’t lived up to that status, Veleno has developed into a very solid player who should be an NHL caliber center.
Prospect Profile
Height: 6’1″ (185 cm)
Weight: 194 pounds (88 kilograms)
Team: Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) / Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) / Team Canada U18
Country: Canada
Position: Center
Handedness: Left-handed
Date of birth: January 13, 2000
QMJHL statistics (Drummondville): 33 games, 16 goals, 32 assists, 48 points, 22 penalty minutes (regular season); 10 games, five goals, six assists, 11 points (postseason)
QMJHL statistics (Saint John): 31 games, six goals, 25 assists, 31 points, 26 penalty minutes
QMJHL statistics (combined): 64 games, 22 goals, 57 assists, 79 points, 48 penalty minutes
WJC U18 Statistics: Five games, zero goals, three assists
Average Prospect Ranking*: 14
All profile info is courtesy of Elite Prospects.
* Average prospect ranking is the collective average of a prospect’s four major rankings (McKeen’s, Hockey Prospect, Future Considerations, ISS Hockey)
Strengths
Veleno is easily one of the best pure skaters in this draft. He makes it look effortless as he speeds by defenders. Veleno is also very quick. Skating is critical to the success of any player, especially in today’s game.
A trade to Drummondville seems to have helped him unleash his true potential. Something wasn’t clicking for him in Saint John, but it’s sure clicking now. For the first time in his junior career, Veleno seemed to be dominating like the exceptional player he was at the age of 15. He ranked 14th among QMJHL forwards in points per game, including third among players under 18 (minimum 45 games played).
Veleno is a strong two-way player. His defense is definitely good enough to stick down the middle in the future. Veleno’s discipline is extremely impressive. And considering his abilities as a penalty killer, that’s a crucial skill to have.
Weaknesses
I have some concerns with Veleno. First of all, a majority of his assists were secondary. Among QMJHL forwards with at least 45 games played, Veleno finished third in secondary assists per game (0.39) and 11th in primary assists per game (0.50). Primary assists are more telling of a player’s abilities than secondary assists, especially for forwards.
Secondly, Veleno isn’t much of a goal scorer. In a small sample size, this changed in Drummondville. But I’d like to see him average about 0.40 goals per game over a full season before dropping this concern. Especially since Veleno’s 16 goals in 33 games in Drummondville would have been a career high for him.
He’s not overly physical, but he’s not afraid to win puck battles or use his frame to his advantage. Others might have concerns about it, but I’m not too worried. Veleno’s hockey IQ is top-notch, so he is capable of playing a non-physical game while still being successful.
What They’re Saying About Him
"“A fantastic playmaker who rediscovered his scoring touch after a Dec. 19 trade from Saint John to Drummondville, with 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) after he was moved.” – Mike Morreale (NHL.com)“A jack-of-all-trades player with a nice tool belt. Great edgework, acceleration, vision and puck-protection skills. Blazing fast in a straight line. The 18-year-old is already a consummate worker in the defensive end and is a very safe selection as he has a pro-level approach.” Cam Robinson (DobberProspects)“Veleno is one of the best skaters in the class, not only at his top speed, but, more importantly, in the way he accelerates and changes pace with the puck — which allows him to control and dictate tempo.” – Scott Wheeler (The Athletic)"
Highlights
Overall Outlook
Joseph Veleno has an extremely high floor. His overall game is strong enough to contribute in the NHL. Veleno is a safe pick, which could be considered good or bad. Even if you take a pessimistic approach, he’ll likely be a third-line center at some point in his career. But even an optimist has to agree his ceiling is likely as a second-line center.
That said, I really loved what I saw from him in Drummondville. Even if it’s a small sample size, Veleno was arguably their most impressive player. He looked dynamic and was a consistent difference maker for them. I don’t love him enough to draft him in the top 10, but I’d be surprised if he falls out of the top 15. Especially given this draft’s lack of centers.
Next: Post-Lottery 2018 NHL Mock Draft
Player Comparison
Stylistically, there’s a lot of Lars Eller in Veleno’s game. Like the Washington Capitals center, he’s great at protecting the puck and is a 200-foot player. However, Veleno has a higher ceiling than Eller did as a prospect, as he’s more skilled. Both players are guys who can contribute in every situation.
For the rest of our draft profiles, check out our NHL Draft hub page.