Veleno Embracing New Elevated Role

In 34 games this season, Detroit Red Wings forward Joe Veleno has just eight points, but in his last eight games, he has six.  That uptick in production led into a promotion under new coach Todd McLellan, whose arrival corresponds to the last three games of that run.  In the third period of his first game with the Red Wings, McLellan promoted Veleno to his top line next to Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, where he has remained for Detroit's two-game winning streak, which the team will look to extend tonight in Columbus.

When asked after the Red Wings' Sunday win over the Capitals what Veleno needs to provide offensively to remain on that line, McLellan said he would need more time to determine that, explaining, "I can't fairly answer that question right now. I don't know Joe well enough yet. I don't know what's in his toolbox. He seems to be a real honest player, he seems to have some pace to his game and some skill. His ability right now to go all over the lineup—down, up, penalty kill, hasn't had any power play time—sometimes lines need balance too. And maybe he can provide that."

When asked Monday about the same topic, Veleno himself spoke to the importance of keeping up his present form and habits.  "I think just continue what I've been doing: Using my speed, forechecking well, having good sticks on the forecheck, protect the puck down low, and obviously retrieve pucks for those guys," the Quebecois forward said.  "They like to make plays, and they're gonna find each other, but just try to be at the right spot, go to the net, use my speed, and try to complement those guys."

He continued by saying that success for him would be "retrieving pucks, being hard on the forecheck, winning battles, and obviously I think plays will start to open up.  I think we've got a lot of speed on that line,...so could be dangerous."

In the featured video above, I spoke a bit more to Veleno's fit in a top line role.

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