Canucks trade Alex Biega to Red Wings

The Canucks have traded veteran blueliner Alex Biega to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for winger David Pope.

The Canucks placed the 31-year-old Biega along with Nikolay Goldobin and Sven Baertschi on waivers on Monday. According to Sportsnet’s Rick Dhaliwal, Detroit was one of the teams that showed interest in the veteran blueliner when he was on waivers.

Dhaliwal also reports that Biega’s agent, J.P. Barry, was given permission to talk to teams about a potential trade. Multiple teams were interested, and Canucks GM Jim Benning worked hard to find Biega a new home.

In return for Biega, the Canucks are receiving 25-year-old left winger David Pope. Pope was a fourth-round pick of the Red Wings in 2013 and split time between the AHL and ECHL last season. He had previously spent the prior four years in the NCAA with the University of Nebraska, mustering 20 goals in his final season. The 6’3″, 205 lbs left winger only had three points in 28 games for Grand Rapids last year and is yet to play an NHL game.

Pope is on an expiring two-way contract ($925K, $70K) and entering a big year for himself. The Red Wings website had an article this offseason about Pope’s impressive postseason for ECHL Toledo and where the forward is currently at in his career.

Biega is a quality depth blueliner who was pushed out of a roster spot on the Canucks. He had two goals and 16 points in 41 games with the big club last season, but was in tough to make the team this year with the offseason additions of Tyler Myers, Jordie Benn and Oscar Fantenberg.

While the Canucks aren’t landing a major impact player in the trade, it appears Vancouver is doing Biega a favour to try and extend his NHL career. Biega likely wasn’t going to see much playing time for the Canucks unless the injury bug really bit the team. Brogan Rafferty is knocking on the door after an impressive preseason, while Olli Juolevi should step in soon.

The Red Wings have a very inexperienced defense that should benefit from the veteran presence and strong worth ethic of Biega. The Red Wings blueline lost Swedish veteran Niklas Kronwall to retirement this offseason and are currently led by Danny Dekeyser and Mike Green. Detroit allowed 3.32 goals against per game last season, fifth-worst in the NHL.

Utica has plenty of wingers, but are lacking center depth, so it’ll be interesting to see where (or if) the new winger Pope fits into the equation. With wingers Baertschi and Goldobin already sent down, it’s likely Pope plays for the Canucks ECHL team, the Kalamazoo Wings.

The Canucks could see their ex teammate Biega again soon, as they face the Red Wings twice this month, including a matchup at Rogers Arena one week from Tuesday.