​Maybe Joe Veleno could ask Rangers fans for a mulligan. It seems he needs a second chance to make a strong first impression after signing a one-year contract with the New York Rangers in free agency on July 1. The 26-year-old, who is slated to earn $1.2 million next season, is likely to serve as the fourth-line center on Broadway, but he drew criticism from the new fanbase earlier this week.
Veleno participated in an offseason workout at the Montreal Canadiens’ practice facility in Brossard, Quebec, alongside several of his former Habs teammates. That in itself isn’t a major issue, but a local Montreal reporter, Patrick Guillet, posted a video on X showing Veleno in his old Canadiens gear while on the ice. Again, not a game-changer, and perhaps the Rangers hadn’t issued him any new gear yet. Still, many Rangers fans took to social media to vent their displeasure about Veleno. The chatter intensified Wednesday after Guillet shared a video of longtime Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher skating with his former teammates in Brossard, this time wearing a Vancouver Canucks practice jersey, following Gallagher’s trade to the Canucks last week.
Veleno is a Montreal native, so it makes sense for him to train in the offseason with his former teammates in Brossard. Last season, he posted career lows with two goals, three assists, and five points in 61 games with the Canadiens, and he had one assist in nine playoff games. A former first-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 draft (No. 30 overall), Veleno has reached the 20-point mark in two of his five NHL seasons. The most productive year of his career came in 2023-24, when he set career highs with 12 goals and 28 points in 80 games for Detroit.
The Rangers’ latest addition is the fourth Original Six club in Veleno’s career, following his time with the Chicago Blackhawks briefly in 2024-25, then a season with the Canadiens. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound center steps into a key role in the middle of New York’s fourth line, replacing Sam Carrick after the Rangers traded Carrick to the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline last March. Those are big expectations to meet because Carrick was more than just a heart-and-soul teammate and a pesky veteran center; he was also a fan favorite. Veleno ranked third on Montreal with 166 hits last season and should bring a similar dose of speed and energy to the Rangers, which is encouraging.
However, there’s no avoiding the fact that he must win over the fan base. The path to becoming a fan favorite won’t be paved by offseason workouts alone; it will depend on performance on the ice, consistency, and the ability to connect with the Rangers’ supporters. The early reception suggests Veleno will need to show that he can contribute meaningfully beyond the occasional energy boost, and his ability to fill Carrick’s role on the fourth line will be a focal point for both coach and crowd alike. In time, if he delivers the grit, pace, and production expected of a fourth-line center in New York, the Mulligan will be granted by the fans—though it will hinge on tangible on-ice results rather than off-ice optics.