In looking back on Mete's first nine games with the big club, Julien didn't appear to have any doubts about the Woodbridge, ON's ability to contribute.
"I think he's continued to do his job. I don't see someone who's trying to do more than he should, which is a good thing for him," the coach explained ahead of the Canadiens' game against the Panthers on Tuesday. "He's playing well, he's playing with some confidence and I think it's up to him to keep playing his game.
"He's still here and he deserves to be here. So long as he keeps playing the way he has, he could end up staying here the rest of the season," he went on. "We have the luxury of being able to change our minds if ever we feel things aren't going well, but talking about it now, he's headed in the right direction."
Mete pointed out that the biggest difference he's seen in his NHL adventure so far has been the speed of the game, and the impact that can have on one's mental approach on the ice.
"It's faster. You have to make your decisions faster. Before you get the puck, you have to see what you're going to do already," outlined Mete, who said that his time with the OHL's London Knights prepared him well for the NHL experience as a whole. "If you have to think about it, your options will all go away. [You have to] be prepared."
If the Canadiens decide that Mete should stay in Montreal and not go back to Junior, there will be decisions to be made on his living situation. General manager Marc Bergevin suggested that he might try to arrange for Mete to live with a veteran teammate, as Brendan Gallagher did with Josh Gorges earlier in his career.
There is another option, however…
"I have an open room in my place, he's welcome to do that," Bergevin concluded with a laugh. "Not sure he'll like that, though."
