Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Joe Veleno has found his new home, as he has signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Montreal Canadiens.
Veleno, 25, was traded by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Seattle Kraken last month in exchange for forward Andrei Burakovsky. However, Veleno ended up not being a part of the Kraken's plans, as they bought him out shortly after. Now, after spending over two weeks on the market as an unrestricted free agent (UFA), he has found his new team with the Canadiens.
Pen to paper! The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a one-year, one-way contract with forward Joe Veleno.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 16, 2025
News release ↓ #GoHabsGo | Montblanc Boutique Montréalhttps://t.co/CUE2zccT15
Veleno's time with the Blackhawks was short, as he was acquired by Chicago at the 2025 NHL trade deadline in exchange for Craig Smith and Petr Mrazek from the Detroit Red Wings. Veleno appeared in 18 games with the Blackhawks following the move, posting three goals, seven points, 46 hits, and a minus-9 rating in 18 games. This was after he had five goals and five assists in 56 games with Detroit before the trade.
With the Blackhawks having plenty of centers, it is understandable that they moved on from Veleno this off-season. Now, he will look to make an impact and take that next step in his development with the Canadiens after signing this one-year deal.
Blackhawks Made Great Move With Important ForwardThe Chicago Blackhawks have been less active this off-season than they were last summer. While this is the case, they have made some solid moves during their off-season, and one involved an important player on their roster.
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