2026 Rangers Season Previews: Joe Veleno
Veleno's counting stats cratered in Montreal, but a low-cost, one-year deal with the Rangers gives him one more shot to prove he can still be an NHL regular.
Can Joe Veleno bounce back after a subpar 2025-26 season to anchor the New York Rangers' fourth line?
Originally drafted in the first round by the Detroit Red Wings in 2018, Veleno has been a tantalizing-but-frustrating player for three different teams to this point in his career.
Touted as a top center prospect, Veleno came with a whole host of attractive labels: high IQ, fleet-footed, killer instinct, and defensively mature. But very few of those labels have come to fruition in the NHL, and at 26-years-old, Veleno appears to be what he is.
For the Rangers, however, that might not be a problem. They're not counting on him to play a scoring role, and even if he only chips in 5-10 goals and 15-20 points, that's just fine for a fourth line center.
Previous Performance
Veleno played 61 games last season for the Montreal Canadiens, largely in a depth role. He recorded a measly two goals and three assists in that span, but was leaned on by Canadiens coach and former Ranger Martin St. Louis to play shutdown minutes.
Though Veleno's counting stats took a nosedive, his speed was still an element that the Canadiens used—and the Rangers could use as well. In a more defensive role, Veleno's underlying numbers improved, too. He skated to a 49.38 expected goals-for percentage, according to Evolving Hockey. This was a noted jump over the previous four seasons, where he played to the tune of the mid-to-low 40s in xGF%.
Additionally, this came in a season when his scoring dropped. The underlying numbers bear out his defensive improvement, as he allowed the lowest rate of shots against per 60, at just over 23, in his career.
It is worth pointing out, however, that Veleno did lose St. Louis's confidence at times. As the Canadiens dealt with various injuries, Veleno had a fairly secure lineup spot, but once Alexandre Texier returned to the lineup, Veleno often found himself watching games from the press box. The fact that the Canadiens did not extend him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent came as something of a surprise, and that allowed the Rangers to snap him up in unrestricted free agency.
Expectations
After the Rangers traded away Sam Carrick at the deadline this past season, their fourth line came into flux. The hope for Veleno is that he can step into the 4C role and be a solid veteran presence for the youth fighting over those last few spots. Whether it's Adam Sykora, Jaroslav Chmelar, Matt Rempe, or a surprise standout in camp, the Rangers have a glut of young depth forwards fighting for roster spots.
Without scoring expectations on him, and being asked to use his speed effectively in more defensive deployment, Veleno should be able to relax into a dependable role. He may not reach his previous career averages of about 10 goals and 20 points per 82 games, but a steady presence and some occasional and timely scoring would make him well worth the $1.2 million cap hit.
Predictions
7 G | 16 A | 23 PTS
I think Veleno will fit it nicely with the Rangers. I expect the fourth line will see a rotating cast on the wings, with all of Sykora, Rempe, Chmelar, and Taylor Raddysh seeing time with Veleno.
But I also expect that we'll see Veleno get a few opportunities up the lineup. If J.T. Miller can't rediscover his form at center, we might see Laba bumped up to 2C in an experiment, and Veleno will find himself playing on the third line. When he does get some increased offensive opportunity like that, I see Veleno improving his scoring over last season.
Conclusion
Veleno is a great gamble at a low cost for the Rangers' depth. Even if he hasn't lived up to his draft pedigree, he brings much-needed speed to what has been one of the slowest lineups in the NHL. His improving defensive game will help secure what looks to be a solid fourth line amidst a youth movement, and he still has the ability to chip in offense here and there.
On only a one-year deal, Veleno has a lot to prove—especially since he's no longer an RFA. If he wants to carve out a long NHL career as a complementary forward, the 2026-27 season is his best chance to make an impression and convince teams that he's worth continuing contracts.
