Breaking: Red Wings top forward agree to a two-year contract at an average of $2.275 million annually, three RFAs remain.

In order to avoid an arbitration hearing, the Detroit Red Wings signed forward Joe Veleno to a two-year agreement at an average of $2.275 million annually.

The 24-year-old Veleno has finished his most fruitful season with 12 goals and 28 points in 80 appearances.

The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Joe Veleno to a two-year contract worth an average of $2.275 million per year in order to avoid an arbitration hearing.

After 80 games, the 24-year-old Veleno finished with 12 goals and 28 points, marking his most productive season to date.

Analyzing Joe Veleno’s recent contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings

Joe Veleno, a forward for the Detroit Red Wings, has agreed to a two-year contract extension.

Joe Veleno, a forward who is a restricted free agent, and the Detroit Red Wings reached an agreement on Friday to avoid arbitration and extend their contract for another two years at a cost of $2.275 million a year.

When I first heard about the new contract, I was kind of like, “Whoa.” Though it’s a moot point, I thought it might be a bit of an overpay in a world where we always appear to be watching every move we make and negotiating the salary cap, knowing that the team must extend Lucas Raymond, the forward, and top defender Moritz Seider.

After being one of the few children awarded exceptional status—which permits a player to start their junior hockey career a year ahead of everyone else—Veleno, 24, a previous first-round draft selection (30th overall) from the 2018 NHL Entry Level Draft, hasn’t exactly lived up to his pre-draft promise. Veleno, a skillful skater who joined Detroit’s roster regularly in 2021–22, is used in a variety of ways.

In addition to playing all over the court, Veleno is a natural center who has also filled in on the wing when necessary. Nevertheless, he’s been content as a fourth-line player, mostly because he can’t develop into a reliable offensive threat. It’s annoying to watch the fast forward because, despite the fact that there are numerous tools in the toolbag, he hasn’t yet demonstrated his ability to drive a line consistently.

Going forward, Joe Veleno must be more reliable for the Detroit Red Wings.
Veleno has a talent for pulling off his greatest Houdini impressions occasionally. Veleno was ineffective for 20 games in a row from the middle of February to the end of March in the 2022–2023 season. He also had a long drought of 25 games without a goal. In the last 22 regular season games for the Detroit Red Wings, Veleno managed just one goal and two points.

With 12 goals and 28 points in 80 appearances last year, Veleno set career highs in every category. He also played an average of little under 14 minutes per game. With a minus-16 rating, Veleno and one-way defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere matched for the lowest on the squad.

Veleno needs to improve as a two-way player and find a way to contribute offensively more consistently if he wants to have a long NHL career. Being a lifetime bottom-six forward has its benefits, but Veleno needs to find a way to increase his value to the Red Wings going forward, even if it means playing a specialized role.