Veleno, 21, returned to North America last week after he was loaned to the Malmo Redhawks in the Swedish Hockey League to begin the 2020-21 campaign. Veleno ranked among team leaders with 11 goals (3rd), nine assists (T9th) and 20 points (T4th) in his second professional season. In 2018-19, Veleno logged 54 games for the Griffins and led the team's rookies with 23 points (11-12-23). Veleno began last season as one of the youngest players in the AHL and led all under-20 skaters in scoring. The Kirkland, Quebec, native also won gold with Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, serving as an alternate captain for the club and ranking sixth on the team with six points (1-5-6) in six games in his second-consecutive appearance at the tournament.
Originally drafted by the Red Wings in the first round (30th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Veleno turned professional at 19 after spending four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he racked up 266 points (90-176-266), a plus-82 rating and 106 penalty minutes in 230 games between the Saint John Sea Dogs and Drummondville Voltigeurs from 2015-19. In his final season of junior hockey, Veleno was named a QMJHL First-Team All-Star after finishing fourth in the league with 104 points (42-62-104) in 59 games with Drummondville. A 2017 QMJHL champion with Saint John, Veleno also produced 46 points (27-19-46), a plus-10 rating and 34 penalty minutes in 61 postseason contests. In addition to his appearances for Canada at the 2019 and 2020 World Juniors, Veleno has played extensively for Team Canada, including a gold medal at the 2017 Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He combined for 26 points (4-22-26) and 24 penalty minutes in 29 games at various junior tournaments for his country since 2015-16.
