Biega knows the score entering camp
Defenceman determined to earn a spot on the team by displaying versatility that got him there
And like that, Alex Biega is a three-season NHL veteran.
The guy they call the Bulldog has built a 138-game career out of being a Swiss Army knife, switching defence partners at the drop of the hat, sometimes even being sent out as a fourth-line forward.
Biega, 30, a former captain at Harvard, knows who and what he is, and happily admitted it Wednesday ahead of teeing off at the 35th edition of the Canucks’ charity Jake Milford golf classic.
“It’s tough,” Biega said of not always knowing who his defence partner would be. “But at the end of the day, I’ve understood the role I’ve been given.
“I take pride in that role, so I’m mentally and physically prepared for when I go in. There are no excuses.”
Biega suited up 44 times for the Canucks in 2017-18. His best partners, in term of shots for and against while he was on the ice, were Ben Hutton and Derrick Pouliot. It’s an interesting juxtaposition, since Hutton struggled to make an offensive impact but did many things well defensively, while Pouliot proved to be a strong offensive player.
In many ways, the comparison here suits the Biega story well. He spent four years toiling in the AHL before getting his first NHL look for seven games in 2014-15. He built a reputation for being an aggressive player who made smart plays.
To stay afloat in the league, the development never stops.
“I think I’ve done a good job at continually making my game better.”
Being willing to do whatever he can, whenever he can, became his calling card when he finally made the show.
“When you get to the highest league, the best level in the world, it’s intrinsic motivation,” he said.
Like everyone on the Canucks, he has something to prove.
“Same thing I prove every day,” he said. “I think I can be that five/six defenceman. Be a solid contributor and compete hard. Move the puck up ice. I think the league is trending in that direction with defencemen, where you’re getting more of a skating defenceman with mobility.”
The longer off-season because of the Canucks’ failure to make the playoffs got a positive spin from the Montreal native: “More time to work on your game.”
“I sit down at the end of the season and look at my game,” he said, noting he was back on the ice in early May. “I try to find was to improve (my game).”
And so with training camp, it’s back to the grindstone for the three-year NHL veteran.
To stick around, he needs to get better.
“That pushes every player, whether they’re making $7 million or they’re just trying to crack the roster.”