Senators defenseman Victor Mete has been a healthy scratch somewhat routinely as of late and as a result, TSN’s Darren Dreger reports (Twitter link) that the team has given his agent Darren Ferris permission to speak to teams in an effort to facilitate a trade.
The 23-year-old was claimed off waivers from Montreal near the trade deadline last season and played a largely regular role for them down the stretch. That paved the way for the Sens to avoid arbitration with Mete as they agreed to a one-year, $1.2MM contract back in August.
However, things haven’t gone as well this year. Outside of a four-game stint in COVID protocol, Mete has been healthy all season but has played in just 31 of 57 games in 2021-22. When he has been in the lineup, he has basically been entrenched as a sixth defenseman and accordingly, his 14:56 ATOI is a career low. With a $1.2MM qualifying offer owed with salary arbitration eligibility again this summer, Mete currently stands as a possible non-tender candidate.
Despite his struggles, Dreger reports that there is some interest in Mete’s services, likely in the form of a draft pick coming the other way. If Ottawa was willing to retain half of his contract, that would lower the AAV for an acquiring team to just $600K or less than the league minimum. For cap-strapped teams wanting to add some low-cost depth, such a move would certainly make sense if Ferris is able to help facilitate a move between now and the March 21st trade deadline.
As a Sens fan all I can say is “thank god”. He’s been nothing short of terrible since we picked him off waivers from the Habs. Good luck finding a trade partner. He makes me wish we still had Cody Ceci and that’s saying something.
So disappointing this year. I thought he was an actual piece after his showing down the stretch last year, but he just can’t play any defense and what limited offensive upside he provides just isn’t enough for the amount of times he gets caved.
Maybe the Bruins could use him!! Under 5’10 and less than 200lbs! Oh pair him with Clifton, Griz, Achan!!
I wouldn’t think we could get any smaller at d. But who
knows? Maybe Sweeney!
clearly worse thing for him was playing in nhl before he was ready. He has never improved from his original showing. I would not be interested . If i was going to take a flyer i would think about brannstrom doubt he will ever be what hype was. If he gets out of Ottawa maybe he could still be something. interesting of the three orignal vegas draft picks one least hyped suzuki has turned out to be the player of group.