The angst among Detroit Red Wings fans regarding center Joe Veleno is somewhat difficult to fathom.

On the one hand, we get it. The guy went in the first round of the NHL entry draft, 30th overall in 2018. He was given special status to enter the QMJHL as an underage player.

On paper, the suggestion is that Veleno should be more than he actually is. On the ice, the fact of the matter is that Veleno is quite a useful player for the Red Wings.

Detroit and Joe Veleno have settled

2x$2.275M

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 19, 2024

Friday, the Red Wings and restricted free agent Veleno were reaching agreement on a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.275 million. Veleno had filed for arbitration and industry projections based on comparables were that he’d be getting in the range of $2.2 million.

In other words, this contract is right in the ballpark of where it was likely to end up following an arbitration hearing.

Veleno’s Versatility A Bonus For Red Wings

The biggest knock against Veleno is his limited offensive production. That criticism is certainly a by-product of his position on draft day. People expect first-round picks to score.

The reality is that right from the get-go, NHL scouts were in consensus that Veleno was never going to be a significant offensive producer at the NHL level. That being said, what he does produce from his main role as fourth-line center is quite effective.

He scored 12 goals last season. Veleno is one of the fastest skaters on the club. He utilizes that speed to get in on the forecheck. Last season, he dished out 108 hits in 80 games, which worked out to 5.88 hits per 60 minutes.

Fourth-line centers netting double digits in goals and delivering triple digits in hits are valuable commodities. And in Veleno’s case, his skating ability enables him to move up the lineup in a pinch.

After signing Veleno for $2.275M * 2, #LGRW have $17.6M Projected Cap Space with 20 active players (10F/7D/3G)

RFA: Seider, Raymondhttps://t.co/v5CE5h4s36

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 19, 2024

Last season, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman gave Veleno a prove it contact – a one-year deal worth $825,000. Veleno answered the challenge and delivered the goods.

“Joe Veleno and Michael Rasmussen are taking on a bigger role and continuing to improve,” Yzerman said.

And now, Veleno has been appropriately rewarded. He’s never going to be an NHL all-star. That doesn’t mean Veleno isn’t providing value to the Red Wings.