What’s Rangers’ plan after signing free-agent center Joe Veleno
The New York Rangers made their first signing of NHL free agency on Wednesday, inking 26-year-old center Joe Veleno to a one-year, $1.2 million contract.
Veleno had five points (two goals, three assists) in 61 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season, averaging 12:05 of ice time in a bottom-six role. He made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in May, drawing into the lineup for Montreal’s second-round matchup against the Buffalo Sabres. Veleno ultimately appeared in nine postseason games, earning one assist.
The 2018 first-round pick (No. 30 overall by the Detroit Red Wings) hasn’t been able to put it all together offensively at the NHL level. His best season was 2023-24, when he had career-highs of 12 goals and 28 points in 80 games for the Red Wings.
Veleno is joining his fourth Original Six team after playing for the Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and Canadiens during a six-year career. The Seattle Kraken acquired him at the close of the 2024-25 season but waived him during the summer, buying out the final year of his contract.
Veleno is expected to serve as New York’s fourth-line center in 2026-27.
During coach Mike Sullivan’s exit interview, he emphasized the Rangers’ need to add depth to their bottom-six forward unit, specifically looking for a player who has the ability to contribute on the penalty kill. Veleno could help in both areas.
Joe Veleno fills multiple needs for Rangers
Veleno hasn’t lived up to his first-round billing and leaves a lot to be desired on the offensive end. But the Rangers don’t need him to unlock a new level of his game for this to be an effective signing.
New York has openings in its bottom six after trading Adam Edstrom to the Nashville Predators and letting 33-year-old Jonny Brodzinski walk in free agency. Brodzinski’s departure (he signed with the Washington Capitals) in particular creates a major vacancy after the veteran forward appeared in 163 games over the last three seasons.
Noah Laba appears poised to take over as third-line center in 2026-27, especially after the Rangers traded Vincent Trocheck to the Utah Mammoth soon after signing Veleno. That still leaves a need at fourth-line center — a spot that general manager Chris Drury has historically preferred to fill with an established NHL player.
Veleno might not replicate Brodzinski’s offensive output, but he is a capable fourth-line option who grades out above average defensively and adds speed to New York’s bottom six. Veleno logged 93 minutes on the penalty kill and won a career-best 51.6 percent of draws with Montreal last season.
Veleno should help the Blueshirts get faster. He ranked in the 90th percentile of all NHL skaters last season with a max skating speed of 23.18 miles per hour, according to NHL Edge. On the Rangers, only Edstrom (23.80 mph) and Jaroslav Chmelar (23.25) posted a faster max speed in 2025-26.
Veleno also ranked in the 83rd percentile with 130 bursts between 20 and 22 mph. The Rangers finished 23rd in speed bursts over 20 mph last season.
Offense is a different issue. His production declined during the last two seasons, and he finished with a measly 3.8 shooting percentage in 2025-26. Still, if Veleno can play a reliable fourth-line role, New York will likely get its money’s worth.
He doesn’t move the needle much for a Rangers team that finished last in the Eastern Conference last season, but he adds some much-needed center depth and shouldn’t block any of New York’s rising forward talent. Plus, if the fit doesn’t work, Drury should have little trouble moving Veleno’s inexpensive one-year contract.
