Red Wings ship Joe Veleno to Chicago in multi-player trade
🚨 TRADE ALERT! Details down below:
The Chicago Blackhawks are trading goalie Petr Mrazek and forward Craig Smith to the Detroit Red Wings in return for forward Joe Veleno.
Veleno has another year at $2.275 million. He’s dipped from 28 points last season to 10 this season, although he is only 25. A change of scenery could benefit him.
Veleno gets a fresh start in Chicago after scoring a career-high 28 points last season with the Wings. He was expected to almost be a saviour in Detroit after he was the first QMJHL player granted exceptional status before being a first-round pick by the Red Wings in 2018.
This is a return to Detroit for Mrazek, who was selected by the Red Wings in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft. He spent the first six years of his career in Detroit, growing into a full-time starter with the team.
This season he has a .890 save percentage and a 10-19-2 record for the Hawks.
He will join a crowded crease in Detroit that also features Cam Talbot, Alex Lyon, Jack Campbell and top prospect Sebastian Cossa. He is signed through next season with a $4.25 million cap hit.
As for Smith, he will bring some much needed depth to the bottom six in Hockey Town.
