The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they’ve acquired another superstar from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for goaltender Petr Mrazek and forward Craig Smith.
Veleno, 25, has tallied 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) over 56 games with Detroit this season. He ranks third among Red Wings forwards—and fifth overall on the team—with 93 hits, while tying for fourth among team forwards with 32 blocked shots.
The 6-foot-1, 201-pound Montreal native has totaled 74 points (35 goals, 39 assists) in 288 career NHL regular-season games, all with Detroit. Veleno set career highs in 2023-24 with 12 goals, 16 assists, and 28 points.
Detroit selected Veleno with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft. Internationally, he helped Team Canada capture gold at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, where he registered five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in five games. He was also part of Canada’s gold-medal-winning squad at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, contributing six points (1 goal, 5 assists) in six games.
Mrazek, 33, appeared in 33 games for Chicago during the 2024-25 season, posting a 10-19-2 record with a 3.46 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage. On November 2, he played his 400th career NHL game in Los Angeles, stopping 37 shots in a victory.
Over three seasons with the Blackhawks (2022-2025), the 6-foot-2, 188-pound netminder played in 128 games, compiling a 38-72-9 record, a 3.34 GAA, a .899 save percentage, and one shutout. His 128 appearances rank 14th in franchise history. Mrazek, a native of Ostrava, Czechia, was originally drafted by the Red Wings in the fifth round (141st overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft.
Smith, 35, posted 16 points (9 goals, 7 assists) in 40 games for Chicago in 2024-25, his debut season with the team. His nine goals were tied for seventh on the roster, while his 16 points ranked 11th.
The 6-foot-1, 203-pound winger has amassed 450 points (220 goals, 230 assists) across 968 NHL games with Nashville, Boston, Washington, Dallas, and Chicago. A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Smith was selected by the Predators in the fourth round (98th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft.
