Joseph Veleno said goodbye to the Canadiens this week, confirming his new chapter with the Rangers.
The Quebec-born forward posted a farewell message on Instagram, closing the door on a run that started as a childhood dream.
Veleno grew up in the province and never hid how much it meant to pull on that sweater at home.
"Playing for my hometown team is something I'll never take for granted," he wrote.
He talked about the chills of representing the city that raised him every time he stepped onto the ice at the Bell Centre.
Veleno posted 5 points over 61 games this season, with 2 goals, 3 assists and a -12 rating.
His game-winning goal was the one bright spot in a tough offensive stretch, and his last 10 games produced just 2 points with a -3 rating.
Veleno's next assignment lands him in New York with the Rangers
He thanked the fans directly, calling their passion and support constant through his time in Montreal.
Veleno 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 in the post.
That line lands harder when you consider how quietly his role had shrunk. A -12 rating over a full season isn't a footnote, it's a signal.
Now comes the next chapter, and it's a big one. Veleno heads to New York carrying a cap hit of $2,275,000 with the Rangers.
He called himself thrilled to continue his career in the Big Apple, a phrase that carries weight for any Quebec kid who grew up idolizing this league.
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The Canadiens moved on, and so has he. What nobody's said yet is whether this version of Veleno, limited to 5 points a season ago, fits anywhere in New York's middle six or gets buried in the fourth line shuffle all over again.
Did the Canadiens make the right call letting Joseph Veleno walk?
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