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.
