Rangers’ Joe Veleno leaves game against Mammoth

New York Rangers center Joe Veleno left Sunday night's game against the Utah Mammoth after suffering a lower-body injury in the first period. Veleno appeared to sustain the injury along the boards following a tangle with Utah forward Clayton Keller. He was unable to put weight on his right leg as he was helped off the ice, and the team confirmed he would not return.

The 26-year-old forward signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Rangers during the offseason after spending the previous year with the Montréal Canadiens. Veleno has played three games for New York this season, carving out a role in the lineup amid the team's limited center depth. His exact recovery timeline remains unclear.