Joe Veleno signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old center was a restricted free agent after having NHL career highs in goals (nine), assists (11), points (20) and games played (81) last season with the Red Wings.
He told RDS in Canada last week he was not worried about his status.
“We continue to negotiate and that is our situation,” Veleno said. “We hope to have an agreement soon.
“There’s no rush as I’m the only player left to sign in Detroit. We will take it day by day and we will see.”
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Selected by the Red Wings in the first round (No. 30) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Veleno has 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) in 152 regular-season games, all with Detroit.
“I feel like I can be on yet another level. It’s a big year for me and I’m ready for what’s to come,” he told the website.
Detroit (35-37-10), which has not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2015-16 season, finished seventh in the Atlantic Division last season, 12 points behind the Florida Panthers for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference.
This offseason, they have added forwards Alex DeBrincat (trade from the Ottawa Senators on July 9) and J.T. Compher (free agent signing July 1), and defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere (free agent signing July 1) and Jeff Petry (trade from the Montreal Canadiens on Aug. 15) in hopes of getting back to the postseason.
“We want to be competitive and I think we’re close for the playoffs,” Veleno said. “We were a surprising team last year. There have been additions of veterans, we continue this year to add a little more depth and a star with DeBrincat.”
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