Detroit — There’s been much talk since the regular season ended about how the Red Wings need to be a tougher team to play against.
One young player who feels he can do more in that area, along with other parts of the game, is Joe Veleno.
The Wings’ 2018 first-round draft pick (30th overall) improved in many ways in his first full NHL season. Veleno had career highs in goals (nine), assists (11) and points (20), while playing a career-best 81 games.
But there’s more Veleno can bring, he feels, in the physical aspect on the ice.
“That’s definitely one of the things I want to bring to the table,” Veleno said during an end-of-season Zoom call with media. “I have the size for it and the ability to be hard to play against. It doesn’t necessarily mean I have to, or should, go out of my way to run guys. I don’t think I’m that type of player. But what I can do is bring intensity and physicality and win more puck battles, races (to the puck). Winning that first battle on the faceoff.
“In general, just be a pr— to play against.”
Having bulked up to 6-foot-1, 203 pounds since leaving junior hockey, Veleno showed glimpses this season of being more assertive on the ice.
Teammates certainly noticed.
“He can skate, and be hard to play against,” said forward David Perron, a fellow Quebec native who has taken on a mentor’s role to Veleno. “We’ve seen some physical play out of him. I see it in the room. I know it can keep getting better. So I have a lot of time for him, to keep helping him.”
Offense is another area Veleno will concentrate on this summer.
Veleno easily could have reached double figures in goals this season if he’d able to finish some glorious opportunities. A 42-goal scorer his final junior season, Veleno showed a good offensive touch in Europe and the American League that has yet to translate to the NHL.
“I have to work at it,” Veleno said. “I have the ability in me. I missed on a lot of chances, quality, Grade-A looks that should have resulted in goals. I have to bear down a little more and focus. It’s something I’ll work on it this summer.
“I want to be relied upon and I have more in me. I can take a lot more steps in my game. Focus on my scoring ability, practice my shot and look at some video of being in better areas on the ice.
“But there are different parts of the game, and a lot of my game relies on being a two-way center and being responsible in my zone. I want to be better defensively and be harder to play against. If I can do those things well, it’ll result in being on the ice more and have the coach’s trust and allows me more opportunity to produce offense.”
Veleno had good relationships with Perron, Andrew Copp and late in the season with call-up Alex Chiasson, all established veterans who pushed Veleno in different ways.
“He was a guy that maybe I was a little hard on in the beginning because you see the talent, you see the skating ability, you see his frame, his skill level,” Copp said. “It’s all there.
“It’s just kind of a matter of taking that next step and doing it every night and be consistent with it in the battles, win the battles. And it’s not about scoring for him. If he’s noticed every shift skating, being physical, winning faceoffs, doing all the little things right, the scoring and the skill part will come out.”
Veleno acknowledged Copp could be critical, but the 23-year-old can thrive with that type of prodding.
“Andrew’s been a big part of my growth this year; he’s helped me a lot,” Veleno said. “I like the fact that he’s hard on me. With my personality, I’m able to take it, I respond pretty well to it. I know he wants the best for me. He knows the type of player I can be and it’s just great to see that from Copper.”
Perron and Chiasson, like Copp, sat close to Veleno in the locker room and imparted NHL wisdom Veleno soaked in.
“Anytime you get advice from them, it’s great,” Veleno said. “They’re guys from Quebec, can speak French, and I get along pretty well with. I try to implement to my game whatever they tell me. They’ve accomplished quite a bit in the game. I was happy they were part of the team.”
Perron views Veleno as a young player who wants to get better.
“I had so many conversations with him in French and English,” Perron said. “We had a lot of fun hanging out together away from the rink and on the road. And I just saw him progress each and every day.”
“He’s a great kid that listens, that wants to be good, wants to have success. I’m really looking forward to how he has a great summer and comes back next year.”
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan