The Montreal Canadiens made a few moves in the lead up to the 2021 NHL trade deadline, but the most surprising was probably letting Victor Mete leave for nothing.
The young, skilled and smooth skating defender had wowed Habs fans with dazzling speed, but was never really able to put the pieces together and develop into an everyday NHL defender.
He was certainly given opportunity, playing on a pairing with Shea Weber as a 19 year old, but he just didn’t take the next step in his development after scoring seven points in 49 games as a rookie.
The Ontario native was drafted in the 4th round, 100th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. He scored 44 points in 50 games the following season for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. He made the NHL the following season and was expected to work his way up the Habs depth chart as an offensive, puck moving defenceman.
By the 2020-21 season, Mete was still battling to be in the lineup every night. As the trade deadline approached, the Canadiens surprisingly placed him on waivers and he picked up by the Ottawa Senators.
It seemed like a waste of a 22 year old defender who could skate like the wind. Sure, he wasn’t developing as quickly as you would have wanted, but to let him go for nothing didn’t seem like the best asset management.
However, Mete hasn’t really taken off since arriving in Ottawa where he would have a bigger opportunity. He closed out last season by scoring just two points in 14 games with the Senators, and continued to be in and out of the lineup this season, putting up seven points in 37 games.
Victor Mete, Tyler Ennis and Chris Tierney will not be returning to the Senators next season. Good pros and good people. Absolutely the best of luck to all three in the next chapter. #Sens #NHL pic.twitter.com/OQ4TuAyJ9f
— Steve Warne (@SteveWarneMedia) May 1, 2022
It seems like it wasn’t enough for the Senators to want to keep the 23 year old around. It was reported today that Mete will not be receiving a qualifying offer from the Senators and will become an unrestricted free agent in July.
That’s not a very common occurrence for a player who made the NHL as a 19 year old. But, it does show Marc Bergevin was right to put him on waivers in the first place.
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