Max Bultman of The Athletic does a feature on the forwards in Detroit’s pipeline and it is very thorough.  I am highlighting Joe Veleno for you…

In particular, Horcoff had good things to say about Veleno’s improved strength and skating, translating to better play in battles.

“He’s able to separate better, he looks confident with the puck,” Horcoff said. “I think overall his game’s taken a nice step.”

One thing of note: while Detroit views Veleno as a center, he’s been playing lately on the wing for Malmö. Horcoff called it “a good thing for (the Red Wings)” because it will help Veleno build his all-around game, allowing him to play in any type of situation and making him more versatile positionally.

Malmö’s general manager, Patrik Sylvegård, told me the decision to play Veleno on the wing was largely about the defensive demands of the center position in Sweden.

The Red Wings have worked with Veleno on his defense since he was drafted, and that side of the game is important to a center in the NHL. So the hesitance over his defensive-zone play over there is relevant, even if he is playing on the big ice for the first time right now. But on the whole, Sylvegård has been very pleased with Veleno, especially on offense.

“He’s really fast with the puck,” Sylvegård said. “(Without) the puck he’s not the fastest guy (for Malmö), we have a lot of guys that can play faster. But with the puck, and he can go left or right with high speed, and have two guys on him and he has control over the puck. And he has a really good shot too.”

much more (paid)

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 03/02/21 at 10:06 AM ET

I would hope Zadina has quieted most of the questions of why DET took him in the draft.  Imagine Zadina with actual good players around him…

As for Veleno, remember that DET played Larkin at wing at first for much the same reason.  So him playing at wing is maybe no big deal.  If Veleno can develop like people think, boy that Tatar trade with Vegas looks very good for DET indeed (and that’s before we know if the 2019 pick they got, Mastrosimone, can become anything).  Veleno is a guy DET could desperately use coming up.

Also, props to Malmo’s GM for being brutally honest about Veleno’s abilities.

Posted by Primis on 03/02/21 at 10:34 AM ET

Imagine (insert name here) with actual good players around him…

Posted by RWBill on 03/02/21 at 06:09 PM ET

Primis,

I think Zadina’s overall play has been good but my only bitch at.this point is his shot selection. This season he has had some great opportunities in the slot and he ends up passing. I saw this three times against Chicago alone. Even Mickey mentioned this. The slot was his bread and butter in the minors.  Not sure why he is hesitant.

Posted by damndog revenge From the bowels of Detroit on 03/02/21 at 06:46 PM ET