A DAY LIKE NO OTHER: Victor Mete’s Monday journey from Montreal to Ottawa
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Author of the article:
Ken Warren 
Ottawa Senators defenseman Victor Mete (98) checks Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) in front of goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia Article content
Victor Mete provided a new definition for changing on the fly Monday.
A day that started with the 22-year-old defenceman on the ice in Montreal with his Canadiens teammates ended with him talking about making his debut in Ottawa with his new Senators teammates in a 4-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets.
We’ll let Mete explain how everything fell into place after being claimed off waivers by Ottawa.
“It was pretty crazy,” Mete said after playing 9:43 alongside Josh Brown on a third Senators pairing.
“I practiced this morning in Montreal and then skated with the (non-game players) after. I got told at (noon) that I had been claimed by Ottawa.”
Next came the quick conversation with Senators general manager Pierre Dorion and coach D.J. Smith, asking if he could make it to Canadian Tire Centre to play against the Jets.
After trading Mike Reilly and Braydon Coburn on Sunday and Erik Gudbranson on Monday, the Senators were at a bare minimum on the blueline.
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Under the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols, such a move was allowed because Mete was going directly from the Canadiens bubble to the Senators bubble.
“So, I packed up and drove down here, my fiancée and me, we got quickly packed and came to the rink,” Mete said. “I guess she just got a place (in Ottawa) now.”
Ottawa Senators defenseman Victor Mete (98) lines up for a face-off Winnipeg Jets during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
It wasn’t quite like quickly changing into equipment in the car like most minor hockey players have gone through at some point as kids, but it wasn’t that far off, either.
There was no pre-game nap, no time for the typical run up to the game, no time to think about much except for putting on the skates and getting fitted in new team colours.
At least he found a familiar face in Alex Formenton, as the two starred together with the London Knights as juniors.
FILE: Victor Mete with the London Knights. Photo by Derek Ruttan /POSTMEDIA
“It was definitely different, no pre-game routine today, but I felt very good,” said Mete. “I’m very excited and happy to be here. I think it will be good for me.
“I wouldn’t say there were any nerves. I would just say I was excited to kind of start fresh here and just take off hopefully. The only thing with the systems, it’s a little different.”
Where it goes from here is up to Mete. He’s going to get every opportunity to prove himself as the season winds down, another young, low cost option on a team that is already full of them.
He could also soon find himself paired with 20-year-old Jacob Bernard-Docker, the 2019 first-round draft pick who signed with the Senators two weeks ago after leaving the University of North Dakota.
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When Mete was skating with the Canadiens on Monday, Bernard-Docker was skating with the Senators for the first time since coming out of his quarantine period.
It’s possible Bernard-Docker could make his Senators debut as early as Wednesday against the Jets, but Senators coach D.J. Smith won’t rush the move if he doesn’t believe he’s ready.
Jacob Bernard-Docker (48) skated with the Ottawa Senators for the first time on Monday, April 12, 2021. Photo by Matt Tidcombe /Ottawa Senators
Mete is an intriguing case, only a few years ago a shining light in the Canadiens organization who lost his sparkle almost overnight.
A fourth-round pick by the Canadiens in 2016, he stepped into the NHL as a 19-year-old, registering seven assists in 49 games in 2017-18.
He played 71 games with the Canadiens the following season and had four goals and seven assists in 51 games last season.
Mete, 5-9 and 184 pounds, isn’t going to intimidate physically and somewhere along the line, though, there was no longer room for him in the Montreal lineup.
Signed to a one-year deal last summer, he had three assists in 14 games this season.
“I don’t think anything really went wrong,” Mete said of his Canadiens experience. “I don’t think anything really went wrong. They didn’t think my style fit their system anymore. It happens.”
Change can happen fast. Senators fans have seen it here.
In 2018, Max Lajoie burst onto the scene in Ottawa, only to quickly slide out of favour once Smith arrived. Earlier this season, Christian Wolanin appeared to own the spot where Mete now finds himself.
“I’m looking to bring aggressiveness to the offence, just kind of show an all around 200 foot game here,” Mete said. “I’m not the biggest guy. I’m just trying to get underneath guys and steal the puck, and try to transition really well.”
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Ottawa Senators defenceman Artem Zub (left) moves the puck as Winnipeg Jets center Pierre-Luc Dubois pursues during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators defenceman Josh Brown (left) and Winnipeg Jets defenceman Logan Stanley fight during first period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators left wing Ryan Dzingel (left) gets hauled down Winnipeg Jets defenceman Neal Pionk during first period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators left wing Ryan Dzingel (middle) gets hauled down by Winnipeg Jets centre Mason Appleton (right) in front of Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck during first period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators left wing Ryan Dzingel (10) gets hauled down by Winnipeg Jets centre Mason Appleton (22) in front of Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during first period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators right wing Drake Batherson (19) eyes there face-off during first period NHL action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) in congratulated on his goal against the Winnipeg Jets by teammate Ottawa Senators center Josh Norris (9) during first period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators left wing Alex Formenton (right) battles with Winnipeg Jets defenceman Derek Forbort during first period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators left wing Alex Formenton (59) fends off Winnipeg Jets defenceman Derek Forbort (24) and center Mark Scheifele (55) in front of Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during first period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators right wing Connor Brown (28) is congratulated on his goal against the Winnipeg Jets by teammates Artem Zub (2) and Chris Tierney (71) during first period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators defenceman Erik Brannstrom lined up for a face-off against the Winnipeg Jets during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators right wing Connor Brown (left) gets tangled up with Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators defenceman Victor Mete lines up for a face-off Winnipeg Jets during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators defenceman Victor Mete (98) checks Winnipeg Jets centre Mark Scheifele (55) in front of goaltender Anton Forsberg during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators defenceman Artem Zub (right) checks Winnipeg Jets centre Pierre-Luc Dubois during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators defenceman Josh Brown (3) checks Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub checks Winnipeg Jets centre Mason Appleton during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
-OTTAWA- April 12,2021. Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) against the Winnipeg Jets during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. ERROL MCGIHON/Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
-OTTAWA- April 12,2021. Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) makes a save as Winnipeg Jets center Mason Appleton (22) eyes the rebound during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. ERROL MCGIHON/Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
-OTTAWA- April 12,2021. Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot (72) checks Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor (81) during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. ERROL MCGIHON/Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
-OTTAWA- April 12,2021. Ottawa Senators right wing Connor Brown (28) and Winnipeg Jets center Paul Stastny (25) battle in the face-off circle during second period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. ERROL MCGIHON/Postmedia25 Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
-OTTAWA- April 12,2021. Ottawa Senators right wing Connor Brown (28) collides with Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley (64) during third period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. ERROL MCGIHON/Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
-OTTAWA- April 12,2021. Ottawa Senators right wing Drake Batherson (19) avoids the check of Winnipeg Jets defenseman Tucker Poolman (3) during third period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. ERROL MCGIHON/Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
-OTTAWA- April 12,2021. Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates one of his two goals against the Winnipeg Jets with teammate Alex Formenton (59) during third period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. ERROL MCGIHON/Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
-OTTAWA- April 12,2021. Ottawa Senators right wing Evgenii Dadonov (63) gets poke-checked by Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during third period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. ERROL MCGIHON/Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
-OTTAWA- April 12,2021. Ottawa Senators right wing Evgenii Dadonov (63) gets poke-checked by Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during third period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. ERROL MCGIHON/Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
-OTTAWA- April 12,2021. Ottawa Senators right wing Evgenii Dadonov (63) gets poke-checked by Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during third period NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. ERROL MCGIHON/Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
-OTTAWA- April 12,2021. Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) and Ottawa Senators right wing Drake Batherson (19) celebrate their teams victory over the Winnipeg Jets at the Canadian Tire Centre. ERROL MCGIHON/Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
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As wild as Monday was, Mete was not completely shocked when he heard the news he had been claimed by the Senators. When both Reilly and Coburn were traded Sunday he said, “I figured it might be an option, I thought it might happen.”
Consider the rest of the season an open tryout to stick around in 2021-22.
After one game, at least, he has impressed Brady Tkachuk.
“To have that kind of day, he played great for us,” said Tkachuk. “I can only imagine that if I was in that situation, I wouldn’t be able to take a stride, my legs would be as heavy as anything.”
kwarren@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/Citizenkwarren
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