DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today acquired defenseman Alex Biega from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for left wing David Pope.

Biega, 31, has appeared in 179 NHL games with the Canucks since debuting in 2014-15, totaling 36 points (4-32-36) and 94 penalty minutes. A 5-foot-10, 199-pound blueliner from Montreal, Quebec, Biega posted his best statistical season with Vancouver in 2018-19, registering a career-high 16 points (2-14-16) to rank fourth among Canucks defensemen in points, despite skating in only 41 games. Biega has also logged 351 games in the American Hockey League with the Portland Pirates, Rochester Americans and Utica Comets over his 10 professional seasons, registering 115 points (20-95-115), a plus-16 rating and 245 penalty minutes.

Prior to his professional career, Biega spent four seasons at Harvard University, serving as captain in 2009-10. He recorded 70 points (15-55-70) in 131 collegiate games from 2006-10. He was twice named to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference’s Third All-Star Team and was an ECAC All-Rookie Team member as a freshman in 2006-07. Biega is originally a fifth-round draft pick (147th overall) of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

With Trevor Daley leaving the Red Wings’ game early on Sunday night, it looks like the trade for Biega somewhat clears up the forward logjam in Grand Rapids with former 4th rounder David Pope heading out and it refills the depth jam for the Griffins, who may be saying farewell to a defenseman through callup sooner rather than later.

Biega was waived by Vancouver on September 30th and assigned to Utica. He did not play in the Comets’ season opening win on Saturday in Binghampton.