Red Wings deal F Joe Veleno to Blackhawks for 2 veteran players

Field Level Media|published: Fri 7th March, 16:03 2025

Feb 1, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Detroit Red Wings center Joe Veleno (90) in action against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Holmes-Imagn Images

The Chicago Blackhawks acquired forward Joe Veleno from the Detroit Red Wings on Friday in exchange for two well-traveled veterans, goaltender Petr Mrazek and forward Craig Smith.

Veleno, 25, has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 56 games with 13 penalty minutes, a minus-14 rating and 11:57 average time on the ice. He has blocked 32 shots and made 93 hits.

He has 74 points (35 goals, 39 assists) in 288 career games in parts of five seasons since 2020. Detroit selected Veleno in the first round (30th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft.

Mrazek, 33, is 10-19-2 this season with a 3.46 goals-against average and .890 save percentage in 33 games (all starts).

Detroit picked Mrazek in the fifth round of the 2010 draft. He played for the Red Wings from 2012-2018, then the Philadelphia Flyers (2018), Carolina Hurricanes (2018-21), Toronto Maple Leafs (2021-22) and Blackhawks (2022-25).

Mrazek has a career record of 178-174-40 with a 2.85 GAA and .906 save percentage and 25 shutouts in 423 regular-season games (392 starts). He also is 12-15 with a 2.43 GAA and .911 save percentage with five shutouts in 29 playoff games (28 starts).

Smith, 35, has nine goals and 16 points with a minus-7 rating and 28 penalty minutes in 40 games in his first season with Chicago.

The Nashville Predators made him a fourth-round pick in 2009. He has played for five teams and has 450 career points (220 goals, 230 assists) and a plus-90 rating in 968 regular-season games. Smith also has 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 83 postseason games.

--Field Level Media

Latest