Should The Habs Bring Up A Replacement for Veleno?
The majority of the Montreal Canadiens' forwards have performed well in their roles since Patrik Laine suffered a long-term sports hernia injury after the sixth game of the season. However, no matter where Joe Veleno has played, he has reduced the effectiveness of his line.
“Could it be time to bring up someone like Lucas Condotta (who has had a cup of coffee in the league) or Jared Davidson up from the Laval Rocket? Are we sure we can’t just sneak this guy into the lineup if we have him wear Veleno’s gear?”
The Canadiens are approaching the need to add a forward who can improve upon Veleno's contributions. When he played alongside Kirby Dach and Zack Bolduc, he held back the line offensively.
Veleno's skills did not fully translate from the QJMHL to the professional level, forcing him to adapt to a more defensive role. While his skill set might suit a fourth-line position, he appears to lack the work ethic typical of players in that role.
Typically, a fourth-liner relies on a hard-nosed forechecking style rather than a finesse game, which does not align well with Veleno's approach.
Author's Summary: Joe Veleno’s skill set and work ethic have limited his impact on the Canadiens, indicating the team should consider promoting a more effective forward from their Laval Rocket affiliate.