Joseph Veleno closed a meaningful chapter this week, confirming his departure from the Montreal Canadiens and the start of a new one with the New York Rangers.
The Quebec-born forward shared a farewell message on Instagram that carried the weight of a childhood dream finally lived out. Growing up in the province, Veleno had never hidden what it meant to wear the Canadiens sweater in front of the home crowd. “Playing for my hometown team is something I’ll never take for granted,” he wrote. He described the chills of representing the city that raised him every time he stepped onto the ice at the Bell Centre.
The numbers from his final season in Montreal tell a more restrained story. Veleno finished with 5 points in 61 games—2 goals and 3 assists—while posting a -12 rating. His lone game-winning goal stood out as a rare bright moment in an otherwise difficult offensive stretch. Over his last 10 games he managed just 2 points and a -3 rating. The production, or lack of it, quietly underscored how his role had diminished.
In the same post Veleno thanked the fans for their constant passion and support. He also singled out teammates, coaches and staff for believing in him and making the rink feel like more than a workplace. “The friendships and the memories will stay with me forever,” he added. That line lands with particular force given how limited his ice time and impact had become.
Now the next assignment takes him to New York. Veleno heads to the Rangers carrying a $2,275,000 cap hit. He called himself thrilled to continue his career in the Big Apple—an expression that carries real resonance for any Quebec kid who grew up idolizing the league.
The Canadiens have moved on, and so has he. What remains unsaid is whether this version of Veleno—limited to five points a season ago—can carve out a meaningful role in New York’s middle six, or whether he risks being shuffled into the fourth-line mix once again. The heartfelt goodbye closes one door. The next test begins in a different sweater.