If you want to fully understand just how badly the Canadiens want to make the playoffs this season, how that is a priority above anything else right now, just think of Victor Mete.



More specifically, think of Mete’s introduction to the NHL.



His first day of training camp in 2017, he found himself playing next to Shea Weber. Mete, with a few exceptions, hasn’t left his side ever since.



The reason Claude Julien gave on that first day of training camp two years ago was that the organization wanted to put Mete in the best position to succeed. He was 19 at the time, and they had to nurture him to a certain extent, which is only normal. Who wants to put a kid that age in a position to fail, right?



Fast-forward two years and putting rookies in a position to succeed has become far less of a priority. In fact, it doesn’t appear to be a priority at all. The priority is the playoffs, and that has never been more evident than it was...