What is Joe Veleno's ceiling?

[Mick Jagr]

Pens fan here, but I come in peace! I'm just curious what Wings fans believe Joe Veleno's ceiling to be in the NHL. I've only ever seen him play handful of times, but there's so much to love about his game. How good is this guy realistically going to be?

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[Henkka]

I think it's the hardest one to predict from any of our prospects.

I don't really know. Others are much easier to predict.

Veleno was pretty good defensive center for Lafreniere, but we should get some elite winger from somewhere to play with him. Putting him with Mantha and Bertuzzi would be the best scenario Detroit has to offer, but don't think we'll see that yet. Maybe at season 2021-22.

 

[raymond23]

Realistically, he’s going to be a 2C in the mold of a Mikael Backlund. Smart, efficient, responsible, occasionally throws in some offensive flair.

I think it might take him a minute to start producing in the NHL but he’s fully capable. I’m really interested to see how year two in the pros goes for him.

 

[Snuggs]

Yeah, he's prolly ceiling a 2nd line C.

He's more realistically a 3rd line C/Fringe 2nd line center.

Lars Eller would be a solid comparison imo. I don't think Veleno is a bad player, just idk don't think he's got the ceiling to be great.

 

[Marky9er]

He's an interesting case because he was in major junior and subsequently pro a year early. He definitely caught up in junior so that's encouraging. To me in time he'll become a responsible 15g30a middle 6 C. Can play top 6 if Larkin or Wright get hurt.

 

[Tetsuo]

He's an interesting case because he was in major junior and subsequently pro a year early. He definitely caught up in junior so that's encouraging. To me in time he'll become a responsible 15g30a middle 6 C. Can play top 6 if Larkin or Wright get hurt.

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[Steve Yzerlland]

He's an interesting case because he was in major junior and subsequently pro a year early. He definitely caught up in junior so that's encouraging. To me in time he'll become a responsible 15g30a middle 6 C. Can play top 6 if Larkin or Wright get hurt.

Wright?

 

[Martinez]

Wright?

Some people think the lottery won’t constantly screw us

 

[Marky9er]

Some people think the lottery won’t constantly screw us

Positive thoughts manifest reality lol

 

[Realgud]

Positive thoughts manifest reality lol

I really can't wait until Veleno puts up 50 goals a year between Ovechkin and Gordie Howe.

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

I really can't wait until Veleno puts up 50 goals a year between Ovechkin and Gordie Howe.

but where’s cleary?

 

[Dotter]

Consistent 15 goals and 35 points per season with a couple outlier seasons of 20-25 goal and 40-50 points in his prime. Think: Frans Nielsen.

for me, I hope he become an extraordinary 3rd line center on a great team. 2nd line center is too optimistic for me, unless playing for a bad team lacking center depth. re; Red Wings, currently...

Or he could bottom out as a [smaller] Riley Sheahan.

Veleno's AHL debut wasn't very inspiring to me. I was expecting/hoping for more.

 

[golffuul]

I see him as a potential Couturier-type, but without the 30+ goal ability. 20/60 is probably Veleno's ceiling.

 

[Realgud]

but where’s cleary?

He's the generational locker room presence.

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

Consistent 15 goals and 35 points per season with a couple outlier seasons of 20-25 goal and 40-50 points in his prime. Think: Frans Nielsen.

for me, I hope he become an extraordinary 3rd line center on a great team. 2nd line center is too optimistic for me, unless playing for a bad team lacking center depth. re; Red Wings, currently...

Or he could bottom out as a [smaller] Riley Sheahan.

Veleno's AHL debut wasn't very inspiring to me. I was expecting/hoping for more.

he was also incredibly young for the ahl

 

[Ezekial]

Consistent 15 goals and 35 points per season with a couple outlier seasons of 20-25 goal and 40-50 points in his prime. Think: Frans Nielsen.

for me, I hope he become an extraordinary 3rd line center on a great team. 2nd line center is too optimistic for me, unless playing for a bad team lacking center depth. re; Red Wings, currently...

Or he could bottom out as a [smaller] Riley Sheahan.

Veleno's AHL debut wasn't very inspiring to me. I was expecting/hoping for more.

Your expectations were off, he stood out against his peers and got better as the season went on.
People need to quit acting like the ahl is a breeze for a 19 yo first year pro.

 

[MBH]

I think he still has 25-35-60 upside.
But I saw a lot of things over the last 15 months that were concerning after a great D+1 year.
1) After a terrific D+1 season, his playoff scoring vanished in his final round.
2) In the 3 on 3 tournament in Detroit, was lazy defensively.
3) In the prospect tournament, he scored a lot. But I couldn't believe how bad some of his reads were. His defense was brutal.
4) In his D+1 year, he was surprising in Detroit's exhibition season. He played a simple, fast game, getting the blueline with possession and then allowing his team to set up. In his D+2 exhibition season, he was one of Detroit's worse players. Terrible CF. 3 goals against.
5) He was -25 in GR. i didn't watch much GR hockey, so I can't say much about it. but he was -7 worse than the second worst guy.

Now, you can break his season in half if you want

First 26: 3-6-9 -19
vs
Final 28: 8-6-14 -6

Obviously, that looks like progress.
I guess if he plays next year in the AHL, I'd like to see
First 28; 8-6-14 -6
vs
Final 28: 14-14-28 +6

Can't expect linear development. And it's way too early to throw in any towels on Veleno.
But without a doubt, over the last 15 months, I've lowered my expectations.
This was a guy I had ranked as our best prospect a year ago.
So that's on me, I guess.

 

[Dotter]

Your expectations were off.

Not really.

I still think he's a 15 goal guy/3rd line centre in the NHL.

 

[ArmChairGM89]

Think Crosby, but with mcdavid speed and Ovechkin shot. So 60 point 2c is his ceiling. 45 point 3c is my expectation.

prime Frans Nielsen seems like a real solid comp for production and likely playstyle.

 

[Ezekial]

Not really.

I still think he's a 15 goal guy/3rd line centre in the NHL.

Your expectations were completely perfect and after he didn't meet those amazingly accurate expectations you had for him....

You heard it here guys, he's a 35 point player for sure.

 

[Dotter]

Not really.

I still think he's a 15 goal guy/3rd line centre in the NHL.

Your expectations were completely perfect and after he didn't meet those amazingly accurate expectations you had for him....

You heard it here guys, he's a 35 point player for sure.

Yes. Save the post for a 2030 look back @ my Frans Neilsen comp. Frans only scored 18 to 25 goals twice in his entire NHL (14 year) tenure, respectively. He scored 17 twice and everything else was under 16 goals while consistently playing 79+ games per season.

 

[Ezekial]

Yes. Save the post for a 2030 look back @ my Frans Neilsen comp. Frans only scored 18 to 25 goals twice in his entire NHL (14 year) tenure, respectively. He scored 17 twice and everything else was under 16 goals while consistently playing 79+ games per season.

Idk why you repeated yourself, but

 

[Dotter]

Idk why you repeated yourself, but

Conversations with you be like...

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

2C. He's got some physical gifts, and he's a good playmaker in a straightforward sense. But he's never going to dazzle you the way a real 1st line player can. I think his real value will lie in creating structure and puck movement for more talented linemates.

Odds are, I think he's a 2/3C tweener.

 

[lilidk]

I believe Veleno its Valtteri Filppula 2.0. Very good , not great