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Montreal Canadiens: Are Victor Mete and Alex Belzile ready to go?

By Omar L

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 26: Victor Mete #53 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Boston Bruins during the first period at the Bell Centre on November 26, 2019 in Montreal, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 8-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 26: Victor Mete #53 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Boston Bruins during the first period at the Bell Centre on November 26, 2019 in Montreal, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 8-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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The Montreal Canadiens will have to start putting together their training camp rosters, and it looks like Victor Mete and Alex Belzile may be ready.

With the NHL and NHLPA confirming that training camp will begin on July 13th, the Montreal Canadiens will need to decide who is going to participate. Earlier in the week, I looked at the 31 players who the Habs should bring to Phase 4 with some asterisks along the way. Two of them being Victor Mete and Alex Belzile.

Both players saw their 2019-20 seasons cut short with injuries. Mete suffered an ankle injury in December and fractured his foot in February, which shut him down for the year. Belzile, on the other hand, went down with a pectoral injury after a game against the Cleaveland Monsters. The eventual surgery came with a six-month recovery period.

It was tough for both players as Mete was hoping this season would be the one where he proves his stock. He scored his first NHL goal and added three others, but the rollercoaster ride saw him go up and down the pairings list on the Habs’ blueline.

Belize had a solid start to the year, putting up 7 goals and 7 assist for 14 points in 20 games. After signing his first NHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens with a $700,000 cap-hit, many hoped he would see time with the big club at some point, especially with all the injuries.

Marc Bergevin wasn’t sure whether Victor Mete would be ready for the Stanley Cup Qualifier while we didn’t hear much about Alex Belzile’s status. However, both have been skating in groups at Brossard, and that could hint at them being ready to play.

https://twitter.com/CanadiensMTL/status/1280657721730240517

Belzile is already past his expected recovery window, so it’s easier to believe that he’s good to go. Mete’s fractured foot is a different story. Sometimes they can go on track, and other times it can take longer to recover from. At the same time, team-friendly skates are different than high-end competition in a playoff-like setting.

The fact that Mete is skating at all is a very good sign, and maybe he could’ve borrowed some of Shea Weber‘s healing abilities from this season.

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Hopefully, both are healthy enough to travel to Toronto with the rest of the Montreal Canadiens. Mete took strides this season despite some hiccups along the way, and this can be his chance to increase his stock ahead of his upcoming contract negotiation. Belzile is already signed for next season, but this could be an audition for a depth role on the team that he’s been working towards.

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