Player Discussion Victor Mete

[stanley25]

Mete is still incredibly young and able to keep up with the NHL game, he'll be fine and will be at least a top 4 D when he matures.

I would however give him a stint in the AHL to focus on his offensive game.

 

[DangerDave]

Mete is fine defensively and he makes stuff happen that doesn't show up on the score sheet. He just needs a better shot and he ll be a good 2 way dman

 

[ryan callahan]

Hedman put up 69 pts in 224 games in his first 3 years. That's a .31 ppg which over 82 games is just about 26 pts. Mete in 66 games so far has a .15 ppg, which over 82 games is 12 pts. Big difference. If Mete were producing at around a 20+ pt pace it would look much better. Producing at a .15 ppg is not what you want for a top 4 D on a contending team imo unless you have a really strong top 3. Many posters have said they would have preferred Mete play in the AHL to work on his offensive game and fear that being rushed to the NHL will limit his upside for when we are a contender.

Rushing players is a myth and I'll always stand by it. We sent Scherbak to the AHL where he became a PPG player. He still can't produce in the NHL. Same with McCarron (Not PPG but still). Same with Corey Locke. Same with many more players. If Mete is invested in becoming a better offensive player and is a positive player in the NHL (Which he absolutely is), he has his spot on the NHL squad. Players that want to make it will adapt their game to the pro levels. Those who don't stay AHL lifers (Chris Bourque, Travis Morin, Corey Locke, somewhat Nigel Dawes).

 

[montreal]

Rushing players is a myth and I'll always stand by it. We sent Scherbak to the AHL where he became a PPG player. He still can't produce in the NHL. Same with McCarron (Not PPG but still). Same with Corey Locke. Same with many more players. If Mete is invested in becoming a better offensive player and is a positive player in the NHL (Which he absolutely is), he has his spot on the NHL squad. Players that want to make it will adapt their game to the pro levels. Those who don't stay AHL lifers (Chris Bourque, Travis Morin, Corey Locke, somewhat Nigel Dawes).

Rushing players is not a myth, that's crazy. Hockey is mostly mental, once you mess with a players confidence it can be very hard to get back. Corey Locke was small, poor skater and lacked speed. McCarron could be a 4th liner still but was just drafted too high for what he brings. He certainly looked like he was on track in his 2nd OHL season and at the start of his AHL career when he was just about a ppg and then we started yo-yoing him and funny that now he doesn't look close to that ever since. Do you think he just forgot how to score after putting up 20 pts in 21 games to start his AHL career? After he was called up he never looked the same again.

Of course there are going to be guys that just can't hack it in the NHL, but are very good AHLers. But there's a reason why over 80% of NHLers go through the AHL. It's a development league, it should be easier to develop or improve on a skill in the AHL vs doing it on the biggest stage in the world.

 

[ryan callahan]

Rushing players is not a myth, that's crazy. Hockey is mostly mental, once you mess with a players confidence it can be very hard to get back. Corey Locke was small, poor skater and lacked speed. McCarron could be a 4th liner still but was just drafted too high for what he brings. He certainly looked like he was on track in his 2nd OHL season and at the start of his AHL career when he was just about a ppg and then we started yo-yoing him and funny that now he doesn't look close to that ever since. Do you think he just forgot how to score after putting up 20 pts in 21 games to start his AHL career? After he was called up he never looked the same again.

Of course there are going to be guys that just can't hack it in the NHL, but are very good AHLers. But there's a reason why over 80% of NHLers go through the AHL. It's a development league, it should be easier to develop or improve on a skill in the AHL vs doing it on the biggest stage in the world.

''Developmental league'' for players that can't hack it in the NHL. If Mete is a NHL player, he should be developing in the NHL. It's not gonna help Mete to weave through AHL scrubs for his NHL skills. Offensive game in the AHL is a whole different thing than the NHL's offensive game. And anyways, regardless if he is in NHL/AHL, a very minimal portion of a player's skill is acquired through a game. Mete and every pro player has hours of practice between games where he plays 20 minutes. The most intense 20 minutes sure, but still 20 minutes nonetheless. Using the org to blame the player's failings in a terrible excuse.

 

[Kriss E]

''Developmental league'' for players that can't hack it in the NHL. If Mete is a NHL player, he should be developing in the NHL. It's not gonna help Mete to weave through AHL scrubs for his NHL skills. Offensive game in the AHL is a whole different thing than the NHL's offensive game. And anyways, regardless if he is in NHL/AHL, a very minimal portion of a player's skill is acquired through a game. Mete and every pro player has hours of practice between games where he plays 20 minutes. The most intense 20 minutes sure, but still 20 minutes nonetheless. Using the org to blame the player's failings in a terrible excuse.

That's just not how development works man. If this were true, most kids would just skip the minors.
Just go straight to the NHL after being drafted. Ya, no, that's not the case.

Just like if you want to lift 400lbs...well you don't give someone 400lbs, and let him try it and try, and try again until he lifts it. He needs to develop some strength little by little to get there.
Same idea here. Some kids need more time and work versus weaker opponents in order to build up their game.
Now, that doesn't mean everyone is going to make it in the NHL. It doesn't mean every single player needs to go through the exact same process. Some kids will benefit from more easy minutes to develop their games, others can skip a step. To suggest rushing players is a myth is a bit silly, no offense.
There is also a time window to maximize development.

It's not about acquiring skills, it's about perfecting your current skills. It's a lot harder to do that when you play in a faster and better league, and not everybody can just do it.
You have a very romantic-destiny view of things, which simply isn't realistic.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Mete is still incredibly young and able to keep up with the NHL game, he'll be fine and will be at least a top 4 D when he matures.

I would however give him a stint in the AHL to focus on his offensive game.

They kept doing that with Barberio. He developed his AHL game wonderfully. Enough said.

 

[ryan callahan]

That's just not how development works man. If this were true, most kids would just skip the minors.
Just go straight to the NHL after being drafted. Ya, no, that's not the case.

Nope. Most players drafted even in the top 5 aren't NHLers out of the gate. Generational players like Mcdavid and Sid get PPG while some top players like Hall, Duchene get 50 points. The rest aren't playing in the NHL because they don't have the skills to do so yet. They have to perfect their stuff in a league of their level (Suzuki in juniors for example) so they don't look out of place. Tell me why the Habs or any other team would put a player that would definitely bring negative value to the squad like Suzuki, who looked still raw even against weaker competition in pre-season. Mete is a NHL level player and deserves to play and get better here because he's one of our top Ds. Kotka the same.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

He's no Juulsen but he'll be fine

 

[Kriss E]

Nope. Most players drafted even in the top 5 aren't NHLers out of the gate. Generational players like Mcdavid and Sid get PPG while some top players like Hall, Duchene get 50 points. The rest aren't playing in the NHL because they don't have the skills to do so yet. They have to perfect their stuff in a league of their level (Suzuki in juniors for example) so they don't look out of place. Tell me why the Habs or any other team would put a player that would definitely bring negative value to the squad like Suzuki, who looked still raw even against weaker competition in pre-season. Mete is a NHL level player and deserves to play and get better here because he's one of our top Ds. Kotka the same.

Well there you go then, if we put Suzuki in the NHL, that would be rushing him. Now, use that same idea on a lesser extreme.
Some guys are more ready than others. Some need a few years to refine and improve their skills, others maybe just a year or two.
Mete should never have played full time in the NHL last year. That was a mistake. At this point it might be too late.
Was hoping for Mete to become out version of Krug. Difference between both is Krug spent a year in the AHL developing his game.
I'm convinced Mete would have benefited from some playing time there developing the offensive aspect of his game.
I would still send him down now to hopefully. The Habs, this year, can go through a rebuild/losing season.

 

[MaxDummy]

It's not gonna help Mete to weave through AHL scrubs

He wouldn't "weave through" AHL scrubs at all IMO..

Best case scenario Mete becomes a Jared Spurgeon. Good PMD who doesn't put elite numbers but is always a positive on the ice. Great in the dzone.

Matt Grzelcyk, Troy Stetcher are also good comparables.

Worst possible outcome he never gets better and has already hit his ceiling.

Mete made the team because Bergevin gutted our whole left side. Thats it. With capable LDs Mete would be in the AHL right now and I love the kid.

 

[MaxDummy]

I really don't get the hate on Mete.

Because there is no hate on Mete.

 

[admiralcadillac]

I think he's probably been the habs most consistent defenseman this year. Defensively that is.

 

[ECWHSWI]

Nope. Most players drafted even in the top 5 aren't NHLers out of the gate. Generational players like Mcdavid and Sid get PPG while some top players like Hall, Duchene get 50 points. The rest aren't playing in the NHL because they don't have the skills to do so yet. They have to perfect their stuff in a league of their level (Suzuki in juniors for example) so they don't look out of place. Tell me why the Habs or any other team would put a player that would definitely bring negative value to the squad like Suzuki, who looked still raw even against weaker competition in pre-season. Mete is a NHL level player and deserves to play and get better here because he's one of our top Ds. Kotka the same.

not yet ? as in later maybe ? as in he need to DEVELOP his game some more ? as in bringing him up now would be rushing him ?

but you don't believe in rushing players...

 

[WhiskeySeven*]

I really don't rate the guy. I fear he's close to his ceiling.

 

[ECWHSWI]

I really don't rate the guy. I fear he's close to his ceiling.

same here, when I think of Mete, first name that comes to mind is rafael Diaz...

 

[GHJimmy]

Wait hold on.. Is it me only on this board that see this kid and pity him? Of how lovely or tiny he is, it's incredible! I mean it hits me everytime they show him on tv, like oh this little guy!... Is that just me?

 

[WhiskeySeven*]

Wait hold on.. Is it me only on this board that see this kid and pity him? Of how lovely or tiny he is, it's incredible! I mean it hits me everytime they show him on tv, like oh this little guy!... Is that just me?

He's a cutie for sure. I'm not convinced he is above replacement-level though, and his relative lack of presence and impact on the comings and goings of a match don't reflect favourably on his career trajectory.

But he's still young and can grow and thrive under the right guidance.

 

[yianik]

He needs to go to the AHL and hopefully there is an offensive game he can develop. If he does that he could potentially be a no.3D, otherwise I see him as a bottom pair guy.

 

[Deebs]

With the upcoming roster moves that will need to be made, him going to the A is the easiest to do until other alternatives are available.

 

[TT1]

I'm more worried about Juulsen than i am with Mete, i love Mete. As long as Mete plays a solid dgame (which he is) im fine with him taking the time to figure out how to best utilize his offensive tools in the NHL.

You can clearly see him being careful when hes playing right now. Eventually he'll get a better feel for the league, his reads will get better with experience and he'll be able to make smart/efficient offensive plays. We can already see signs of this in his play, when the situation is right he really likes to pinch pretty deep as another passing option.

Look at Tatar's goal vs Calgary last game, notice who came to support the attack? When Tatar shot the puck Mete positioned himself perfectly as a passing option, he was pretty much open for an empty netter. Kid has great hockey IQ.

 

[ryan callahan]

same here, when I think of Mete, first name that comes to mind is rafael Diaz...

Diaz was like 6 years older than Mete and regardless of that Mete has the skating and the defensive IQ and stick Diaz never had.

 

[Californiadreamin]

Bust, they tried to sell him.. No one bit.

 

[ryan callahan]

not yet ? as in later maybe ? as in he need to DEVELOP his game some more ? as in bringing him up now would be rushing him ?

but you don't believe in rushing players...

Nope. He could develop just as much in the NHL, but why would he hinder the team by being a below replacement player when we can slap him in the AHL and be a good contributor there. The perfect level to develop a player is the level they are at because they can contribute while getting better. Mete is easily an NHL defender and is miles ahead of the Schlemko, Alzner, Ouellet gang so he deserves to play. Players barely develop at all during games because they are rightfully scared of trying something new and make a mistake. If you want to develop your skills, the best place to do so is in practice or during the off-season.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Nope. He could develop just as much in the NHL, but why would he hinder the team by being a below replacement player when we can slap him in the AHL and be a good contributor there. The perfect level to develop a player is the level they are at because they can contribute while getting better. Mete is easily an NHL defender and is miles ahead of the Schlemko, Alzner, Ouellet gang so he deserves to play. Players barely develop at all during games because they are rightfully scared of trying something new and make a mistake. If you want to develop your skills, the best place to do so is in practice or during the off-season.

Agreed.