Red Wings draft Joseph Veleno 30th overall
The Detroit Red Wings selected forward Joseph Veleno with the 30th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
Joseph Veleno
Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 193 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Drummondville (QMJHL)
Nationality: Canadian
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 GPG | 5v5 PPG | 5v5 GF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 22 | 57 | 79 | 0.34 | 1.23 | 61.1 |
(Even-strength stats courtesy: prospect-stats.com)
It wasn't that long ago when the early projections saw Veleno as the top pick in the 2018 draft. It's hard to argue, given he was just 15 years old when he was granted exceptional status and the right to suit up in the QMJHL at an early age.
In fact, Veleno is just one of five players to be deemed "exceptional" in CHL history, a list that includes graduates John Tavares and Connor McDavid. A quick perusal of the stat sheet shows why Veleno is very fitting of the term, particularly following a midseason trade to Drummondville, where his production increased to nearly 1.5 points per game.
In a draft class loaded with dominant defensemen and high-scoring wingers, Veleno is among the top centers available and will be attractive to any team looking to address a need up the middle.
"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. One of the best power-play distributors in the CHL," - Cam Robinson of DobberProspects.com said.