Joe Veleno embracing fresh Rangers start after two turbulent seasons

The past two seasons have been quite eventful for Joe Veleno.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.He was traded twice, from Detroit to Chicago and then to Seattle.

He was subsequently placed on unconditional waivers by the Kraken. Veleno then signed his first deal as an unrestricted free agent with the Canadiens and got his first taste of playoff hockey last season. The Habs decided not to tender him a qualifying offer, thus making him a UFA for a second straight summer. “It’s been a little difficult, for sure,” Veleno told The Post on Thursday before he suited up for his first preseason game with the Rangers against the Devils.“Not always easy, but you know what? You try to learn from those mistakes and try to avoid that happening again as best as you could.

Try to find ways to improve and get better.I thought I did a good job of that last year, established myself [with] more of an identity to myself.

Obviously, running here this year.” After signing a one-year, $1.2 million deal with the Rangers this offseason, Veleno is looking to establish himself with a new team following a five-year run in Detroit. The 26-year-old has been penciled into the fourth-line center role since putting pen to paper with the Rangers in the summer.On Thursday, he skated next to Tye Kartye and Matt Rempe, which very well could be the Rangers fourth line on Opening Night in Boston at the end of this month. Veleno said he aims to be responsible defensively and contribute on both the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle.

Chipping in offensively, he added, is what he would like to do more of this season. “He will without a doubt be a big part of the penalty kill,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of Veleno, who had five points (two goals, three assists) in 61 games last season.“I think he’s also a guy that has shown an ability, just with his defensive...