Top 5 center prospects in 2018 NHL Draft

1. Joseph Veleno

There’s so much to enjoy about Veleno’s game with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. He’s hard on the puck with smooth skating and puck control. The foward also makes his teammates look better with unselfish passing plays and a great sense of when to shoot in order to create a chance.

Veleno turns so well both on and off the puck. The Canadian looks to be gliding through the neutral zone with ease past the defenders because he’s always looking to drive the play. His agility catches opponents off-guard as Veleno can turn and take a nasty shot on net in a matter of a second.

Veleno can play anywhere on the ice in every single situation. He’s not shy along the boards and he is great at winning the puck back in open ice scenarios.

The 18-year-old eats minutes for his team along with being the captain of the St. John Sea Dogs before being traded to Drummondville this past season. He produced consistent stats with both clubs by scoring goals and providing a multitude of assists.

Curtis Joe of Elite Prospects really hits the nail on the head when he says the following about the play of Veleno:

"All-in-all, a well-rounded two-way forward that skates well and can be the catalyst a team needs to turn a game in its favor. If he can find the consistency in refusing to let himself get taken out of plays, especially if he doesn’t start them, he will thrive and exceed expectations."

Veleno is a team-player not focused on what he can produce, but what he can do for his club. The Canadian has all the proper qualities of a center to go along with it. Veleno looks to be heading to the New York Islanders unless he can sneak into the top ten, which wouldn’t be a surprise at all.

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