[Signing] Canucks sign Alex Biega

[EternalCanuckFan]

What about blum and fistric!?

[Darkstar]

Gillis really does like the forgotten Sabres prospects. Funk, Mancari and now Biega.

[Vancanwincup]

Alex Biega

is a product of the RSL (Midget AAA) Lions organization, the same team that once developed fellow Sabres prospect Marc-Andre Gragnani. Picked by Rimouski in the 2004 QMJHL draft and later selected by Saint John in the 2005 expansion draft, Biega elected to enroll at the Salisbury (U.S. Prep) School to pave the way for a NCAA developmental route. He was a big reason for the Crimson Knights winning the New England Prep title, and was named the team’s MVP.

2006-07: The defenseman’s freshman season with the Harvard Crimson (ECAC) resulted in six goals and 18 points (led league rookie D-men) while appearing in all of the teams 33 games. He was named to the ECAC All-Rookie squad and shared the team’s Rookie of the Year award with Doug Rogers. He spent most of the season paired with David MacDonald and was a member of one of the top power-play units in the country.

2007-08: A sophomore with Harvard (ECAC), Biega tallied three goals and a career-high 22 points (led defensemen/fourth on team) in 34 games. He was nominated to the ECAC Hockey third team and was an All-ivy League honorable mention. He skated alongside Ian Tallett for most of the season and shares the ice with his brother, Michael.

2008-09: This was Biega’s third season with Harvard University (ECAC), where he served as assistant-captain. In 31 games he netted four goals and 20 points, while racking up a career-high 46 penalty minutes.

2009-10: His fourth and final season at Harvard was a disappointing one for the Montreal native. After back-to-back seasons with at least 20 points he scored just 2 goals with 8 assists and was -5 with 30 PMs in 33 games for the Crimson. A team captain, Biega's struggles were emblematic of the team's disappointing campaign as the Crimson won just nine games.

2010-11: Biega had a solid, if unspectacular, first season of pro hockey with Portland (AHL). In 61 games for the Pirates, he scored 3 goals with 15 assists and was +18 with 52 PMs. In 12 playoff games he had 1 goal with 1 assist and was +1 with 6 PMs.

2011-12: Biega skated in 65 games for Buffalo AHL affiliate Rochester in his second pro season; missing five games in February due to an injury. A mainstay in a defense corps that was frequently shuffled due to injuries and call-ups, Biega also played winger at time for the Americans.

He scored 5 goals with 18 assists and had 47 penalty minutes. His plus-10 plus/minus was second only to Brayden McNabb (plus-15) amongst Rochester defensemen. The Amerks finished second in the North Division and were swept by the Toronto Marlies in a first round playoff series. Biega played in the first and third games of the series – receiving a one-game suspension for a boarding penalty – and was plus-one with 2 assists and 6 penalty minutes. He was re-signed by Buffalo to a one-year contract in August, 2012.

Talent Analysis

Biega is an undersized but slick defenseman with some speed to burn. He is an offensive defenseman who likes to jump up in the play and is learning to pick his spots effectively.

Future

Biega has put in two solid seasons in the AHL and if spots open up he could be one of Buffalo’s first call-ups, getting his first taste of the NHL seven years after being drafted.

Jeremie Blain

2007-08: Chosen in the second round (27th overall) by the Victoriaville Tigres in the 2008 QMJHL Draft.

2008-09: In his QMJHL rookie season, Blain played for two clubs, the Victoriaville Tigres and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. In 49 total games, he scored 1 goal and added 6 assists for 7 points. In 5 playoff games for the Titan, Blain picked up 2 assists.

2009-10: It was a breakout year for Blain, who finished as the top-scoring defenseman for Acadie-Bathurst. He scored 4 goals and added 34 assists for 38 points in 64 games. He added 72 penatly minutes to his offensive totals. In 5 playoff games, Blain scored 2 goals and chipped in 2 assists for 4 points.

2010-11: Blain suffered a broken foot early in the season, missing 28 games, but was a key part of the attack for Acadie-Bathurst upon his return. In his third season in the QMJHL, Blain led all Titan defensemen with 37 assists and was +17 with 2 goals and 48 PMs as the club finished second behind Memorial Cup champion Saint John in the Maritimes Division. In the four-game playoff series with Victoriaville he scored 2 goals with 2 assists and was -5 with 4 PMs.

Talent Analysis

Blain's calling cards are his physicality, his effort level, and a nice set of offensive tools. He has good size and uses it well, and is a leader on his junior team. There are areas to improve upon, mostly when it comes to mobility and defensive awareness and positioning, however he has a lot of nice tools to work with.

Future

Blain has much of the skill set of a tough, top four, offensive minded blueliner. He already delivers on both the power play and even strength from a scoring standpoint, is a willing combatant, and loves getting his nose dirty. If he's able to pick his skating and defensive play up by a couple notches, he could well be a quality 2nd pairing rearguard who can contribute with the man advantage. Failing that and he may not be more than a depth defenseman when all is said and done.

[The Magician]

Ahl signing. Never even heard of them before