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Friday, August 6, 2021

GARRIOCH: Victor Mete happy to get deal in place to avoid arbitration process with Senators - Ottawa Sun

"It happened pretty fast and that was good, so now I'm just looking forward to the season."

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Victor Mete was happy to settle with the Ottawa Senators on his own terms.

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Yes, the 23-year-old defenceman filed for arbitration at Sunday’s 5 p.m. deadline, but that was a formality to ensure that one way or another he’d have a contract in place when training camp opens Sept. 22 at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Nobody actually wants to go through with arbitration, which is why general manager Pierre Dorion was able to get a deal in place with Mete fairly quickly. No hearing had been set, but in most cases the player and the team want to avoid the process because it’s been known to result in hard feelings once the actual hearing is held.

Mete signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal Wednesday night and is now focused on getting ready.

“It happened pretty fast and that was good, so now I’m just looking forward to the season,” Mete said in a Zoom call with reporters Thursday.

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Picked up on waivers from the Montreal Canadiens at last year’s trade deadline, Mete suited up for the final 14 games of the season with the Senators and fit in well. He played big minutes under coach D.J. Smith and was able to establish himself as someone who could play quality minutes.

“The first couple of games were tough to adjust, and not having the chance to practise, but after getting in some practices and games I felt I was able to adjust well,” Mete said. “It was the opportunity that D.J. gave me. He gave me the green light to go out there, play my game, and I think I was just able to take advantage of that.

“I was able to play like I can and not worrying about the fact that if I did make a mistake I won’t be playing in the rest of the game. I was just going out there, playing my game and I had full support from the coach.”

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The No. 100 overall pick in the fourth round of the NHL draft by the Canadiens in 2016, Mete simply fell out of favour under new coach Dominque Ducharme and saw only a limited role. The Senators went looking for help after dealing Mike Reilly to the Boston Bruins and Mete turned out to be a good fit under Smith.

When the Senators made the claim on waivers, they weren’t the only team that tried to add Mete. He has five goals and 36 points in 199 games in his NHL career.

“If your coach has confidence, then you’re able to play the game and love it more,” Mete said. “D.J. told me, ‘It’s a new start for you and do what you can.’ I was able to do that and I felt really good about it.”

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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    GARRIOCH: Victor Mete happy to get deal in place to avoid arbitration process with Senators - Ottawa Sun
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