Potential Buyout Candidate Could Be Perfect Addition for Maple Leafs Under Craig Berube
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Blackhawks forward Joe Veleno would make a perfect addition to Craig Berube's team after being listed as a heavy contender to be bought out this summer.
While the Maple Leafs look to add some new faces to the lineup, they can search the trade market, or find themselves a premium free agent; so long as they don't overpay and find themselves out of luck come Summer 2026.
Toronto should target cheap center help in Joe Veleno
But in the bevy of free agents already scheduled to be available on July 1, there are still some who are waiting to find out whether their team is going to keep them around or buy out their deals and allow them to go elsewhere.
One particular candidate is Blackhawks center Joe Veleno. Named as one of the top buyout targets per Frank Seravalli, the gritty bottom-six forward seems to have run his course in Chicago:
Veleno is the only player on the board this year under age 26, which would allow for a one-third buyout as opposed to two-thirds, providing significant cost savings.
It also isn't a guarantee that he is bought out, as he filled out the lineup last season after a deadline trade from Detroit in exchange for a more expensive Petr Mrazek.
But Veleno is still a candidate as Chicago sorts out what their forward group looks like next season and beyond. There are cost savings to be realized to the tune of $1.2 million in real cash. - Frank Seravalli
It also isn't a guarantee that he is bought out, as he filled out the lineup last season after a deadline trade from Detroit in exchange for a more expensive Petr Mrazek.
But Veleno is still a candidate as Chicago sorts out what their forward group looks like next season and beyond. There are cost savings to be realized to the tune of $1.2 million in real cash. - Frank Seravalli
While he is still serviceable, it seems if Chicago wants to keep some of their better youngsters around, and make a move for Mitch Marner, then they are going to need as much cap and roster space as possible.
Veleno, 25, only has 81 points in 306 career games split with Detroit and Chicago; but he does have 529 hits, 152 blocks, a 46.5% face-off percentage and can play solid defense in the bottom-six.
He only makes $2.275M and while Chicago would be responsible for that portion, if he signs with Toronto for three or four years at $1.5M that would give them a young forward in his prime years, locked up on basically league minimum after the cap rises.
Where does Joe Veleno fit in the Maple Leafs lineup?
Veleno would no doubt be in the lower half of the lineup, but that's perfectly fine. He plays the game exactly like Craig Berube likes, and if he has another fearless physical player who can also offer solid defense; it's a cheaper and grittier David Kampf.
He could slide into either the third or fourth line and depending on how Toronto's other signings go, could be a very savvy pickup.
McMann - Veleno - Domi
Laughton - Veleno - Lorentz
Either of these two lines offer something wildly different thanks to Veleno. Putting him with Robertson and Domi opens up the ice a bit more for them to score, and while he won't be a playmaker; the onus is now on Robertson and Domi to take charge with the extra space.
That fourth line becomes a grinding, gritty nightmare for teams as you have both Veleno and Lorentz not afraid to hit everything that moves, meanwhile Laughton is tough as nails and is as scrappy as ever.
It's a line that wears you down mentally and physically, only for them to let the big boys take charge afterwards.
So for Brad Treliving, if he gets the chance to sign Veleno he should seriously consider it, because it'll help inject some new DNA into the team's identity.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 8 | 316 ANSWERS Potential Buyout Candidate Could Be Perfect Addition for Maple Leafs Under Craig Berube Should the Maple Leafs sign Joe Veleno if the Blackhawks buy him out? | ||
| Yes | 167 | 52.8 % |
| No | 149 | 47.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
