Alex Biega
|
Birthday:
1988-04-04 |
Position:
D |
|
Eligible for draft:
2006 |
Shoots:
Right |
|
Drafted:
2006 |
Height:
5-10 |
|
Acquired:
5th round (147th overall), 2006 |
Weight:
191 lbs. |
Prospect Talent Score
Probability of Success
- C
History
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.
