Top 20 Detroit Red Wings Prospects To Watch In 2019-20

Joe Veleno, Drummondville Voltigeurs, 104 points in 2018-19

Coming in at number two on the top twenty prospects list is Joe Veleno, the centerman who could very well be just as good, or better than Filip Zadina who is the number one prospect in the organization.

Veleno is the most exciting prospect in the Detroit Red Wings organization and put up fantastic numbers with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL. He was drafted in the first round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and since then has been a highly touted player.

Last year, Veleno played in fifty-nine games for the Voltigeurs where he scored forty-two goals and tallied sixty-two assists for 104 total points. He was a real threat on the ice last year in the QMJHL. With some other prospects, there has been a question of transferring talent, but Veleno has consistently excelled at each level.

Veleno is a two-way center; he plays an explosive and intelligent game; he cannot hurt the opponent in more ways than one. In the offensive zone, Veleno is just as good at shooting as he is at passing and playmaking.

One of the things that make Veleno stand apart from other Red Wings prospects is that he carries himself like a mature professional who is very intelligent. Veleno has an excellent vision on the ice and does a great job anticipating the play, making him dominant all over the ice.

The explosivity that Veleno features can be broken down into his acceleration and ability to use his speed to create separation between himself and defenders. Veleno is going to make the jump from the QMJHL up to the AHL this season and hopefully get a shot at the NHL roster briefly. Keep an eye on Veleno this season; he has the chance to prove he will be just as explosive at the AHL level.

Early Expectation: Starting with the AHL club is the most likely destination for Veleno. However,  that is not to rule out an NHL spot for him. If Veleno has a stellar camp, there’s a chance he sneaks onto the roster, but the likelihood is very low.

During the 2019-20 season, the plan should be for Veleno will get his chance at the NHL level for a short stint. He plays the game very similarly to Dylan Larkin; Dobber Prospects compared him to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in terms of style.