The Montreal Canadiens have sent down defenceman Victor Mete down to the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket. Canadiens head coach Claude Julien announced the move on Thursday afternoon.
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Montreal Canadiens Send Down Victor Mete
Mete has racked up four assists and two penalty minutes this season. In 23 games this season The 20-year-old has a Corsi for of 50.7 and a relative Corsi of -2.4.
He has only played for the Montreal Canadiens in his two-year NHL career. The Woodbridge, Ontario native has 11 assists in 77 career games. Montreal originally drafted him in the fourth round, 100th overall of the 2016 NHL draft.
Julien said the move was made to further Mete’s development. The Habs head coach was happy with Mete’s offensive game, but said he needs to work on his defence and play away from the puck. Julien said that going to Laval will for more playing time will further his game.
“Sometimes it’s about getting there first. It’s anticipation, because he’s not a big player, anticipating well and getting to the puck first,” Julien said to the media. Sometimes it’s about how to close quickly and good stick. So, in other words, staying away from just kind of trying to contain. Because when we get in that situation we spend a lot of time in our own end.
What This Means for the Future
The return of Shea Weber forced Montreal’s hand and it was a numbers game. Mete was the odd man out and they didn’t want him to be a healthy scratch with the big club.
Montreal management will get a chance to look at Mete as seven of the next nine games will be in Laval. He was averaging 15:35 of ice time with the Habs and this will likely increase in the AHL. Some solid play with the Rocket may see him return to the Belle Centre sooner rather than later.
Montreal Canadiens defenceman Victor Mete. (Getty Images)
