By Jordan Long
The Detroit Red Wings are the worst team in the NHL with a record of 17-48-5 for a total of 39 points. The next closest team to them is the L.A. Kings who have 62 points. They look for their 18th win of the season tonight, hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Detroit will miss the postseason for the 4th consecutive year and has the best odds of winning the NHL Draft lottery for the 1st overall pick in this years’ NHL Draft. With that, they are looking towards their future and decided defenseman Alex Biega will be part of it for at least 1 more season. The 1-year deal will pay him $875,000.
Biega was traded to Detroit from Vancouver on October 6th, 2019. He spent 5 years with Vancouver. The move was to add depth to Detroit’s blue line. The Red Wings knew Biega was not an offensive defenseman but one who played a physical defense to check opponents off the puck. He could also block shots which would end scoring chances for the rival teams.
Biega has played in 48 of Detroit’s 70 games this season. He is hitting skaters off the puck. Those allow the Red Wings to take control of the puck and skate into the offensive zone to set up scoring opportunities.
When Biega smacks a rival skater, it can cause him trouble. There are times where his play is too rough and he takes a penalty causing Detroit to be shorthanded. Biega has a total of 24 penalty minutes so far this year.
Biega may not have that much NHL experience with 227 played in his career. In those games, he scored 4 goals and added 35 assists. Biega bounced around from the American Hockey Affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins and Detroit this season. Detroit is building on the future and Biega will be part of it for at least one more year. At age 31, this could be Biega’s best chance to stay in the NHL.
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