Joe Veleno is Not Comfortable on the Wing
The Montreal Canadiens have started the season strong, currently holding third place in the NHL standings. Yet, some players are underperforming, including Joe Veleno, who is struggling to find his rhythm early in the campaign.
Struggles on the Wing
Veleno’s offensive output has been minimal. Over nine games, he has registered no points, taken seven shots, and holds a minus-three rating. His discomfort on the wing is evident and affects his overall play.
“He's a centerman. He's not a winger,” said Pierre McGuire on The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro.
Coaching and Strategy
Coach Martin St-Louis has tried an approach where two centers share duties on opposite sides of the fourth line. However, Veleno’s performance in face-offs remains unimpressive. In the most recent game, he won only one of four draws, a 25% success rate.
By contrast, Jake Evans showed much stronger results in the same game, winning seven of twelve face-offs for a 58.3% success rate against the Devils.
Positional Dilemma
The challenge for the Montreal-native forward lies in finding space to play his natural position at center, as the team’s current lineup leaves little opportunity for that role.
Author’s Summary
Despite Montreal’s hot start, Joe Veleno’s lack of production and discomfort on the wing highlight a positional fit issue that the Canadiens must soon resolve.