Bulldog Biega gets bump to blue-line
Vancouver Canucks look to boost depleted back end with a familiar face
It took about three minutes before the first “Bulldog” reference. Luca Sbisa dropped it, twice, moments after Thursday’s morning skate.
Alex Biega will forever be “Bulldog Biega.” You pretty much can’t watch a game he plays without hearing the nickname. People can’t get enough of it, or his never-say-die attitude. So, get used to it, because he’s likely going to be playing a lot.
Philip Larsen is home, in Vancouver, recovering from a concussion. Chris Tanev, once thought to be close to playing, isn’t expected back on this road trip. Alex Edler remains weeks away from playing again.
Enter Biega, who laughed when it was suggested he’s been out so long he could play all the minutes against Tampa.
“I think I’m in pretty good shape. I’ve been able to ride the bike,” Biega said.
There’s been lots of bike riding during the first two months of the season for Biega, and little playing, (just one game Oct. 23 against Anaheim). It was frustrating, and gruelling, but the way the 28-year-old handled himself while he basically sat waiting impressed his coach.
“He’s been unbelievable,” Willie Desjardins said. “He’s set such a great example. It’s the hardest job in hockey, when you’re healthy and you don’t get to play.
“He’s been there every day. He’s pushed guys. He’s said this in a meeting: ‘My job, if I’m not in, is to make other guys better and to push them.’ He’s done that.”
The Canucks went to great lengths this season for Thursday’s moment, when Biega would be needed. Even when it was clear to everyone, both educated and uneducated hockey observers, that Troy Stecher earned a spot in the opening-night lineup, the rookie was sent to the minors. That decision was entirely based on a concern the Canucks had that they’d lose Biega if they put him on waivers.
How else can you explain what happened?
“I tried to work a lot on my skills, like my shot and walking the blue-line. I’m trying to create more offensively, five-onfive.” — Alex Biega
The Canucks’ annual run of injuries to defencemen began early this year. Tanev suffered what’s believed to be a high-ankle sprain, playing his last game Nov. 2. Edler has been out since Nov. 26 with a broken finger.
But even with the top-two defencemen out of the lineup, Biega still wasn’t playing.
The Canucks’ reasons for thinking Biega would be claimed on waivers were twofold. One, there were teams who contacted the club last season about possibly acquiring him. Two, he’s 18-games-played away from being a player teams can expose in the expansion draft. Teams are required to expose one defenceman who has played at least 70 games combined in the past two seasons.
With that as evidence, Vancouver assumed Biega wouldn’t clear waivers and assumed they’d need him at some point.
They sure were right about the latter, though one does wonder how Andrey Pedan would perform with some regular playing time on defence.
Biega, who is smart and can be surprisingly physical, was a middle-of-the-pack blue-liner for the Canucks last year. He was, maybe surprisingly, better at helping the team create shot attempts than he was at limiting shot attempts.
Asked what he’s been working on with all this free time, Biega echoed what just about every defenceman says when asked that question — offence.
“I tried to work a lot on my skills, like my shot and walking the blue-line,” Biega said. “I’m trying to create more offensively, five-on-five.
“But the majority of my game is being tough to play against, and winning puck battles and moving the puck up. It’s tough to simulate that in practice.”
He doesn’t have to worry about that for a while.