Veleno, 21, is off to a fast start with the Griffins, leading the team with three goals and ranking second with 15 shots through five games. The third-year pro spent most of the 2020-21 campaign in Sweden, notching 20 points (11-9-20) in 46 games with the Swedish Hockey League's Malmo Redhawks. He returned to North America at the conclusion of the SHL season, scoring his first NHL goal during his first stint with the Red Wings and finishing with one goal (1-0-1) in five games. He also skated in four games with Grand Rapids, notching three points (1-2-3) and four penalty minutes. In 63 AHL games since 2019-20, Veleno has totaled 29 points (15-14-29) and 24 penalty minutes and led all under-20 skaters in scoring during his rookie AHL season.
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. The Kirkland, Quebec, native also represented his country twice at the 2019 and 2020 IIHF World Junior Championships, combining for eight points (1-7-8) in 11 combined games and taking home a gold medal in 2020. He also took gold at the 2017 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and has combined for 26 points (4-22-26) in 29 games on the international stage for Canada.
