Victor Mete

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Victor Mete

| image =

| image_size = 230px

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|6|7}}

| birth_place = Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 9

| weight_lb = 184

| position = Defence

| shoots = Left

| league = NHL

| team = Free agent

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league = AHL

| former_teams = Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs
Philadelphia Flyers

| ntl_team =

| draft = 100th overall

| draft_year = 2016

| draft_team = Montreal Canadiens

| career_start = 2017

}}

Victor Joseph Mete (born June 7, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fourth round, 100th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2016 NHL entry draft. Mete has also previously played for the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Playing career

=Amateur=

Mete was drafted in the first round, eighth overall by the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the 2014 OHL draft, but refused to play in Owen Sound and was traded before making an appearance with the club to the London Knights in exchange for six draft picks (three second-round, two third-round picks and a conditional sixth-round pick).{{cite web |url=https://www.sasktoday.ca/north/local-sports/players-committed-to-chl-should-report-where-theyre-drafted-4074322 |title=Players committed to CHL should report where they're drafted |work=SaskToday |last=Beauchemin |first=Craig |date=April 13, 2015 |access-date=December 28, 2024}}{{cite web|url = http://londonknights.com/article/knights-acquire-mete | title = Knights Acquire Mete|publisher = London Knights | date = September 8, 2014 | access-date = October 20, 2017}} He would go on to play three seasons with then Knights, helping the team win the Memorial Cup in 2016.

=Professional=

Shortly after the Memorial Cup win, Mete was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round, 100th overall during the 2016 NHL entry draft.{{cite web |url=https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/sports/mete-must-excel-vs-old-teams-to-make-new-one-100777365/ |title=Mete must excel vs. old teams to make new one |last=Hornby |first=Lance |work=Saltwire |date=September 27, 2022 |access-date=June 29, 2023}} On March 27, 2017, Mete was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens.{{cite web|url = https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/canadiens-sign-defenseman-victor-mete/c-288127806 | title = Canadiens sign defenseman Victor Mete |work = Montreal Canadiens | publisher = National Hockey League | date = March 27, 2017 | access-date = October 20, 2017}} Shortly after, leading up to the 2017–18 season, Mete impressed at Montreal training camp and made the opening night roster. He picked up his first point on October 17, registering an assist in a 5–2 defeat to the San Jose Sharks.{{cite web| url = https://www.tsn.ca/couture-scores-twice-in-sharks-5-2-victory-over-canadiens-1.888093 | title = Couture scores twice as Sharks beat Canadiens | work = TSN | date = 2017-10-17 | access-date = 2017-10-18}} On March 2, 2018, Mete left a game against the New York Islanders due to an injury,{{cite web|last1=Braverman|first1=Dan|title=Pacioretty, Mete head home|url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/max-pacioretty-victor-mete-head-home/c-296575694|publisher=Montreal Canadiens |via=NHL.com|access-date=April 9, 2018|date=March 3, 2018}} and a few days later it was announced that Mete suffered a finger fracture and was set to be out for six weeks.{{cite news|last1=Hickey|first1=Pat|title=Canadiens' Max Pacioretty and Victor Mete will miss up to six weeks|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/canadiens-max-pacioretty-and-victor-mete-will-miss-up-to-six-weeks|access-date=April 9, 2018|newspaper=Montreal Gazette|date=March 5, 2018}}

Mete began the 2018–19 season with the Canadiens in the NHL. After struggling in his first 23 games of the season, Mete was sent to the Canadiens American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket, to help his development.{{cite news |last1=Cowan |first1=Stu |title=Canadiens Notebook: Victor Mete sent down to AHL's Laval Rocket |url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/canadiens-notebook-victor-mete-sent-down-to-ahls-laval-rocket |access-date=December 1, 2018 |newspaper=Montreal Gazette |date=November 29, 2018}} Mete was recalled to the NHL on December 17 after recording one goal and three assists in seven AHL games.{{cite web |last1=Cudzinowski |first1=Matt |title=Canadiens recall Victor Mete, assign Noah Juulsen to Laval |url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/victor-mete---noah-juulsen/c-303040076 |publisher=Montreal Canadiens |via=NHL.com |access-date=January 16, 2019 |date=December 17, 2018}}

Mete made the Canadiens lineup out of training camp for the 2019–20 season. After going goalless to start the season, Mete broke his 127-game, franchise-record goalless streak in a 4–0 win over the Minnesota Wild. In the same game, rookie Nick Suzuki also scored his first career NHL goal, making the pair the first Canadiens players to score their first NHL goal in the same game since 2005.{{cite web |last1=Braverman |first1=Dan |title=MIN@MTL: Postgame |url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/postgame-wild-canadiens-victor-mete-nick-suzuki/c-310208582 |publisher=Montreal Canadiens |via=NHL.com |access-date=October 17, 2019 |date=October 17, 2019}} In 51 games with the Canadiens, Mete tallied 4 goals and 11 points from the blueline before suffering a season-ending broken foot against the Detroit Red Wings on February 18, 2020.{{cite web| url = https://www.espn.com.au/nhl/story/_/id/28786719/canadiens-victor-mete-season-broken-foot | title = Canadiens' Victor Mete out for season with broken foot |work = ESPN | date = February 27, 2020 | access-date = February 27, 2020}} On October 9, 2020, Mete signed a one-year contract extension with the Canadiens.{{cite web |title=Canadiens sign defenseman Victor Mete to a one-year contract extension |url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/canadiens-sign-defenseman-victor-mete-to-a-one-year-contract-extension/c-319396044 |publisher=Montreal Canadiens |via=NHL.com |access-date=February 1, 2021 |date=October 9, 2020}} In the following pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season, Mete was dressed in just 14 games, collecting 3 assists, before he was placed on waivers approaching the NHL trade deadline.

On April 12, 2021, Mete was claimed off waivers by the Ottawa Senators,{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/sens-claim-mete-off-of-waivers/c-323564288 | title = Sens claim Mete off of waivers | publisher = Ottawa Senators | date = April 12, 2021 | access-date = April 12, 2021}} Mete scored the only goal of his tenure with the Senators on April 28 in a 6–3 win over the Vancouver Canucks.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401272868 |title=Tkachuk leads the way, helps Senators beat Canucks 6-3 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=April 28, 2021 |access-date=June 29, 2023}} He finished the season with 28 games played registering one goal and five points. On August 4, 2021, the Senators re-signed him to a one-year, $1.2 million contract.{{cite web |title=Senators, Victor Mete agree to one-year, $1.2M contract |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/senators-victor-mete-agree-one-year-1-2m-contract/ |website=Sportsnet |date=August 4, 2021 |access-date=4 August 2021}} During the 2021–22 season, Mete played in 37 games, only registering 7 points.{{cite web|last1=|first1=|title=Maple Leafs Sign Defencemen Jordie Benn and Victor Mete|url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/leafs-sign-defencemen-jordie-benn-and-victor-mete/c-334994336|access-date=July 14, 2022|publisher=Toronto Maple Leafs |via=NHL.com|date=July 14, 2022}} At the conclusion of the season, Mete was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Senators to retain his exclusive negotiating rights, thereby releasing him to unrestricted free agency.{{cite web |url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators/garrioch-even-after-draft-plenty-of-to-do-items-for-senators |title=Garrioch: Even after draft, plenty of 'to do' items for Senators |last=Garrioch |first=Bruce |work=Ottawa Sun |date=July 9, 2022 |access-date=June 29, 2023}}

On July 14, the day after free agency began, Mete signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. Though Mete played well in training camp, he was placed on waivers and assigned to begin the {{nhly|2022}} season with Toronto's AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies on October 9, 2022.{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/maple-leafs-place-wayne-simmonds-kyle-clifford-adam-gaudette-and-victor-mete-on-waivers-denis-malgin-makes-team |title=Maple Leafs Place Wayne Simmonds, Kyle Clifford, Adam Gaudette and Victor Mete on Waivers, Denis Malgin Makes Team |work=The Hockey News |last=Alter |first=David |date=October 9, 2022 |access-date=June 29, 2023}} He was recalled on October 16{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-recall-nick-robertson-wayne-simmonds-and-victor-mete-from-ahl/ |title=Maple Leafs recall Nick Robertson, Wayne Simmonds and Victor Mete from AHL |work=Sportsnet |date=October 16, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2023}} and played in 11 games registering two points with the Maple Leafs before suffering a serious injury on December 6.{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/maple-leafs-victor-mete-back-on-the-ice-after-lower-body-injury |title=Maple Leafs' Victor Mete Back on the Ice After Lower-Body Injury |last=Alter |first=David |work=The Hockey News |date=January 27, 2023 |access-date=July 1, 2023}}

As an unrestricted free agent from the Maple Leafs after one season, Mete was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with his first American-based club, the Philadelphia Flyers, on July 5, 2023.{{cite web | url = https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/flyers-sign-defensemen-ronnie-attard-and-victor-mete/c-345229330 | title = Flyers sign Ronnie Attard and Victor Mete | publisher = Philadelphia Flyers | date = July 5, 2023 | access-date = July 5, 2023}} He attended the Flyers 2023 training camp, but failed to make the team. He was placed on waivers and after going unclaimed, was assigned to Philadelphia's AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to start the 2023–24 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/flyers-victor-mete-goes-on-waivers/ |title=Flyers' Victor Mete: Goes on waivers |work=CBS Sports |date=October 2, 2023 |access-date=October 22, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.phantomshockey.com/three-more-arrive-from-philly/ |title=Three Players Arrive from Philly |publisher=Lehigh Valley Phantoms |date=October 2, 2023 |access-date=October 22, 2023}} He was recalled by the Flyers on October 25, but did not play with Philadelphia and was returned to Lehigh Valley on November 2. He was recalled again on November 5.{{cite web |url=https://www.inquirer.com/flyers/flyers-recall-victor-mete-defenseman-20231105.html#:~:text=Ahead%20of%20the%20Flyers'%20four,originally%20being%20recalled%20Oct.%2025. |title=Flyers recall defenseman Victor Mete from the Phantoms |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |last=Spiegel |first=Jackie |date=November 5, 2023 |access-date=November 12, 2023}} He was sent back to Lehigh Valley on November 14.{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/NHLFlyers/status/1724447182881792106 |title=Transactions: We have loaned defenseman Victor Mete and goaltender Cal Petersen to the @LVPhantoms (AHL). |user=NHLFlyers |author=Philadelphia Flyers |number=1724447182881792106 |date=November 14, 2023 |access-date=November 29, 2023}}

International play

{{MedalCountry|{{ihj|CAN}}}}

On December 16, 2017, Mete was named to the 22-man roster representing Canada at the IIHF World U20 Championship.{{cite web|title=Canadian Roster Set For 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship |url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2018-wjc-roster-unveiled-for-world-juniors|publisher=Hockey Canada|access-date=19 December 2017 |date=16 December 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Wawrow|first1=John|title=Victor Mete excited to trade blue, blanc et rouge for Team Canada colours|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/mete-canada-world-junior-camp-1.4445493|work=CBC Sports |agency=Associated Press |access-date=19 December 2017|date=12 December 2017}} On December 23, 2017, he was named alternate captain.{{cite web|title=Mete named assistant captain at World Juniors|url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/mete-named-assistant-captain-at-world-juniors/c-294330730|via=NHL.com|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|access-date=January 6, 2018|date=December 23, 2017}} Team Canada ended up winning the gold medal at that tournament.{{cite web|agency=The Canadian Press|title=Canada defeats Sweden late to win WJC gold medal|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/canada-defeats-sweden-late-win-wjc-gold-medal/|website=Sportsnet|access-date=January 6, 2018|date=January 6, 2018}}

Personal life

Mete is of Italian descent. In 2022, Mete's maternal grandfather, Vittorio Panza, was killed during the 2022 Vaughan shooting.{{cite web|last1=|first1=|title=Grandfather of Maple Leafs' Mete one of five victims killed in condo shooting|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/grandfather-of-maple-leafs-mete-one-of-five-victims-killed-in-condo-shooting/|website=Sportsnet|access-date=February 19, 2023|date=December 20, 2022}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="101" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="101" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2014–15

| London Knights

| OHL

| 58

| 7

| 16

| 23

| 14

| 10

| 1

| 7

| 8

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2015–16

| London Knights

| OHL

| 68

| 8

| 30

| 38

| 18

| 4

| 7

| 11

| 0

2016–17

| London Knights

| OHL

| 50

| 15

| 29

| 44

| 14

| 1

| 6

| 7

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2017–18

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 49

| 0

| 7

| 4

| —

2018–19

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 71

| 0

| 13

| 6

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2018–19

| Laval Rocket

| AHL

| 7

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 0

| —

2019–20

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 51

| 4

| 7

| 11

| 20

| 10

| 0

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2020–21

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 14

| 0

| 3

| 6

| —

2020–21

| Ottawa Senators

| NHL

| 14

| 1

| 2

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2021–22

| Ottawa Senators

| NHL

| 37

| 0

| 7

| 4

| —

2022–23

| Toronto Maple Leafs

| NHL

| 11

| 0

| 2

| 4

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2022–23

| Toronto Marlies

| AHL

| 6

| 0

| 14

| —

2023–24

| Lehigh Valley Phantoms

| AHL

| 59

| 1

| 15

| 16

| 22

| 4

| 0

| 1

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2023–24

| Philadelphia Flyers

| NHL

| 1

| 0

| —

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 248 !! 5 !! 40 !! 45 !! 46

! 10 !! 0 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2

=International=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! Result

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2014

| Canada Red

| U17

| 6th

| 5

| 1

| 2

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2015

| Canada

| IH18

| {{gold1}}

| 4

| 0

| 1

| 0

2018

| Canada

| WJC

| {{gold1}}

| 6

| 0

| 3

| 2

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Junior totals

! 15

! 1

! 5

! 6

Awards and honours

class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year !
colspan="3"\|OHL
Second All-Rookie Team \| 2015 \|
Robertson Cup Champion \| 2016 \|{{cite web \| url = http://new.ontariohockeyleague.com/article/london-knights-win-robertson-cup \| title = London Knights win Robertson Cup \| website = Ontario Hockey League \| date = May 11, 2016 \| access-date = October 20, 2017 \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160605125938/http://new.ontariohockeyleague.com/article/london-knights-win-robertson-cup \| archive-date = June 5, 2016 \| url-status = dead \| df = mdy-all }}
colspan="3"\|CHL
Memorial Cup champion \| 2016 \|

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

colspan="3"|OHL

Second All-Rookie Team

| 2015

Robertson Cup Champion

| 2016

|{{cite web | url = http://new.ontariohockeyleague.com/article/london-knights-win-robertson-cup | title = London Knights win Robertson Cup | website = Ontario Hockey League | date = May 11, 2016 | access-date = October 20, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160605125938/http://new.ontariohockeyleague.com/article/london-knights-win-robertson-cup | archive-date = June 5, 2016 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}

colspan="3"|CHL

Memorial Cup champion

| 2016