PuckSleuth
90Cap hit
$1.2M
1.2% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$606K
vs. $1.806M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2026-27 regular season
GP
3
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
14:45
PP 0:00 · PK 3:17
xGF%
31.3
5v5, -15.9 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.12
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
21 W · 18 L
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 5 · Hits 7
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 @ DET · W 2-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13:34 | 0:00 | 1:47 | 7-6 | 43 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -0.09 |
| Oct 1 vs TBL · W 5-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 14:45 | 0:00 | 6:33 | 10-5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.04 |
| Sep 29 @ BOS · L 3-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 15:57 | 0:00 | 1:30 | 4-7 | 50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.24 |
| May 29 @ CAR · L 6-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6:33 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 4-1 | 80 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +0.20 |
| May 27 vs CAR · L 4-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6:05 | 0:18 | 0:00 | 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.15 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 614 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
34th percentile
28th percentile
18th percentile
33rd percentile
36th percentile
35th percentile
8th percentile
13th percentile
77th percentile
12th percentile
11th percentile
2nd percentile
7th percentile
42nd percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleDefensive grinder
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Veleno is a relentless forechecking and physical presence who plays a heavy, confrontational game. His offensive touch is nearly absent, with minimal shooting and playmaking ability that limits his scoring impact despite strong puck management and defensive work.
- Shooting volume
- 13
- Playmaking
- 0
- Zone entries(est.)
- 40
- Forechecking
- 96
- Physicality
- 92
- Defensive impact
- 85
- Puck management
- 89
- Speed
- 86
Where he shoots from
Slot 48% · Mid-range 35% · Perimeter 18%(80 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Forechecking at 96th percentile drives consistent pressure on opponents
- Physicality at 92nd percentile brings toughness and edge to every shift
- Puck management at 89th percentile keeps possession in tight spaces
Watch-outs
- Playmaking at 0th percentile means virtually no offensive creativity or setup plays
- Shooting volume at 13th percentile shows he rarely looks to score
- Offensive output remains minimal despite getting 12+ minutes per game
Similar style: Matt Rempe (NYR), Steven Lorentz
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 61 GP · goals above average
Season total -8.7 goals, or -0.14 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.9
- Even strength defense
- +0.3
- Penalty kill
- +0.1
- Finishing
- -4.1
- Playmaking
- -4.3
- Faceoffs
- +0.1
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | Detroit Red Wings | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12.5 | 15:06 | 50.0 | — |
| 2021-22 | Detroit Red Wings | 66 | 8 | 7 | 15 | -14 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 11.0 | 13:13 | 48.3 | — |
| 2022-23 | Detroit Red Wings | 81 | 9 | 11 | 20 | -12 | 30 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 85 | 10.6 | 12:47 | 42.5 | -0.06 |
| 2023-24 | Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 12 | 16 | 28 | -16 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 86 | 14.0 | 13:57 | 49.0 | -0.04 |
| 2024-25 | Detroit Red Wings | 56 | 5 | 5 | 10 | -14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 10.0 | 11:57 | 47.2 | -0.07 |
| 2024-25 | Chicago Blackhawks | 18 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 12.0 | 12:38 | 46.1 | -0.07 |
| 2025-26 | Montréal Canadiens | 61 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -12 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 52 | 3.8 | 12:05 | 51.6 | -0.14 |
| 2026-27 | New York Rangers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 14:45 | 53.8 | -0.12 |
| Career | 7 seasons | 370 | 40 | 46 | 86 | -77 | 119 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 380 | 10.5 | 12:55 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Usage
Last game: @ DET, Oct 2
Line 3 with Tye Kartye and Jaroslav Chmelar (5:48 together at 5-on-5)
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Mike Sullivan's special teams tweak could unlock another level for Rangers top centers
bluelinestation.com · Sep 24
- Cole Beaudoin has no intention of waiting for a Rangers center opening
bluelinestation.com · Sep 12
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average -0.03 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.0 mph
- 25th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 1
- Hardest shot
- 73.4 mph
- 60th pct
- Distance
- 2.6 mi
- OZ time
- 40.0%
- 39th pct
- DZ time
- 41.2%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 26, forwards typically produce 98% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
1 season left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | NYR | $1.2M | 1.2% |
UFA after 2026-27. $1.2M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).