Name: Keven Veilleux                                   2012-13 Club: Wilkes-Barre (AHL)

Height/Weight: 6’5, 221

DOB: 6/27/1989

National Team: Canada

Drafted: 2nd round (51st overall), 2007 (Pittsburgh)

Out of: Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)

Acquired: Draft

Player Type:  Power Forward

Comparable: Wayne Simmonds

Assets: Above average hands for a man his size, will drop the gloves consistently, unstoppable on a breakaway / shootout

Could improve: Refine skating, add lower body strength, considered injury-prone, still putting together his foundation

Projected:  Veilleux’s stickhandling and overall toughness are his best two attributes. He has the ceiling of a top-6 NHL forward, but his injury proneness will probably limit him to a bottom-6 role. Due to his large size and gritty style of play, this won’t be a problem for Veilleux or the Penguins in the near future. Ray Shero is especially high on this kid, and if he puts together a healthy season this year in the AHL, he will be considered a candidate for an NHL roster spot come 2013-14 training camp.

Scouting Report:

• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach, John Hynes:

“Keven’s really become a 200-foot player. If you watch him play now, he might be the first guy in on the forecheck and he’s physical and he creates a turnover. Or he might be the first guy back in the defensive zone. His intensity level and his work ethic have really taken a step, and that’s why he’s had more success.”

“That’s part of what we try to do here in this league, help potential talent find how they can play at the next level. What’s my calling? I think he’s starting to see it and feel it. He’s showing he has not only the potential but the work ethic and physical prowess to possibly play in the National Hockey League.”

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