Joe Veleno Signs a Contract with the Rangers

We know that Veleno, even though he recorded only five points last year, found a way to make himself useful as a role player. He brought a dose of energy and was helpful in the center.

He wasn't indispensable, of course, and the surplus of forwards on the roster meant the club could afford to let him go. But the Rangers clearly see Veleno as a player who can provide depth.

The Canadiens, clearly, were ready to move on from Veleno. So we'll see if the team can replace him with another player who's willing to fill the role of 13th forward.

Will Kent Hughes sign one, or will they prefer to give a Rocket player a chance? Stay tuned.

Extension

Even though Veleno's departure isn't a major blow, the fact remains that the Canadiens haven't been improving over the past few days. In addition to the Quebec native, we've also seen Brendan Gallagher and Patrik Laine leave.

Once again, it's worth noting that these losses are (very) minor. But they're still losses… especially given that the Canadiens haven't added a single NHL-caliber player to replace them.