Bergevin denies report of Mete trade request, agent confirms rumor

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin denied reports that defenseman Victor Mete has requested a trade despite the player's agent saying the opposite.

"Not true and not trading him," Bergevin wrote in a text message to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

It was reported Saturday that Mete wants out of Montreal. His agent, Darren Ferris, said the request stems from a lack of playing time.

"There isn't opportunity to get in the lineup," Ferris said, according to LeBrun. "It's best for both the player and the team."

Mete has been a healthy scratch in each of the Canadiens' eight games this season, failing to crack a stout Montreal blue line after the additions of veteran Joel Edmundson and dynamic rookie Alexander Romanov.

The Habs' reconstructed defense corps has paid dividends to this point, as the club is 5-1-2 on the year.

Mete, 22, appeared in 51 games for Montreal last season, registering 11 points while averaging 16 minutes per night. He carries a $735,000 cap hit and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the campaign.