Vancouver Canucks Trade Alex Biega
After he failed to make the team and was sent to the minor leagues, Alex Biega is now on his way to a new team. The Vancouver Canucks have traded the veteran defenseman to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for David Pope. Biega cleared waivers earlier this month and can be assigned directly to the AHL.
There just wasn’t room for Biega on the Canucks this season, after adding Tyler Myers, Jordie Benn, Quinn Hughes and Oscar Fantenberg to the blueline. The 31-year old played 41 games for the team last season and actually set a career-high in point with 16, but needed a fresh start if he was ever going to get back to being a full-time NHL option. In Detroit, Biega will have to keep fighting for that opportunity as they too have some young players taking on bigger roles. On the final year of his current deal and earning $825K no matter where he plays, Biega could be kept with the NHL club as an extra defenseman or brought up if injuries occur.
Pope’s inclusion in the deal really only represents a way for the Red Wings to even out the contracts. The 25-year old winger split last season between the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL and Toledo Walleye of the ECHL, totaling seven points in 35 regular season games. A very strong playoffs with the Walleye is encouraging, but with just one year left on his entry-level deal it’s hard to imagine Pope ever plays a meaningful role for the Canucks.
Training Camp Cuts: 9/30/18
It’s the last day of September and the start of the regular season is mere days away. Final cuts are looming and the decisions are going to get much tougher. While the drama really lies with the waiver wire over the next few days, keep track here of all the players otherwise sent down right here:
Buffalo Sabres (via team Twitter)
F Justin Bailey (to Rochester, AHL)
F Nicholas Baptiste (to Rochester, AHL)
Carolina Hurricanes (via CapFriendly)
F Patrick Brown (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Greg McKegg (to Charlotte, AHL)
Chicago Blackhawks (per CapFriendly)
G Collin Delia (to Rockford, AHL)
F Dylan Sikura (to Rockford, AHL)
Columbus Blue Jackets (per team release)
G Jean-Francois Berube (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Tommy Cross (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Zac Dalpe (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Dan DeSalvo (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Nathan Gerbe (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Miles Koules (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Mark Letestu (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Ryan MacInnis (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Michael Prapavessis (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Dillon Simpson (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Sam Vigneault (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Justin Wade (to Cleveland, AHL)
Dallas Stars (via Mark Stepneski of NHL.com)
F Erik Condra (to Texas, AHL)
F Michael Mersch (to Texas, AHL)
Detroit Red Wings (per team Twitter update)
F Jussi Jokinen (released from PTO, via MLive’s Ansar Khan)
F David Pope (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
D Vili Saarijarvi (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
G Harri Sateri (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Givani Smith (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Dominic Turgeon (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
F Filip Zadina (to Grand Rapids, AHL)
Edmonton Oilers (per team Twitter update)
D Jakub Jerabek (awaiting assignment)
Montreal Canadiens (per team release)
G Charlie Lindgren (to Montreal, AHL)
New York Rangers (per team Twitter update)
D Brandon Crawley (to Hartford, AHL)
Philadelphia Flyers (per team release)
D Mark Friedman (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
G Carter Hart (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
D Philippe Myers (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
Tampa Bay Lightning (per team release)
D Erik Cerna (to Syracuse, AHL)
F Mitchell Stephens (to Syracuse, AHL)
F Alexander Volkov (to Syracuse, AHL)
Toronto Maple Leafs (per team Twitter update; Dhiren Mahiban)
D Andreas Borgman (to Toronto, AHL)
F Jeremy Bracco (to Toronto, AHL)
F Adam Brooks (to Toronto, AHL)
F Emerson Clark (to Toronto, AHL)
F Rich Clune (to Toronto, AHL)
F Pierre Engvall (to Toronto, AHL)
F Colin Greening (to Toronto, AHL)
F Carl Grundstrom (to Toronto, AHL)
D Timothy Liljegren (to Toronto, AHL)
F Mason Marchment (to Toronto, AHL)
F Trevor Moore (to Toronto, AHL)
D Calle Rosen (to Toronto, AHL)
F Dmytro Timashov (to Toronto, AHL)
D Sean Durzi (from Toronto, AHL to Owen Sound, OHL)
D Mac Hollowell (from Toronto, AHL to Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)
Washington Capitals (via The Athletic’s Chris Kuk)
F Riley Barber (to Hershey, AHL)
F Liam O’Brien (to Hershey, AHL)
David Pope Signs Entry-Level Contract With Detroit Red Wings
It was hardly a secret that David Pope was nearing a deal with the Detroit Red Wings, and the team officially announced a two-year entry-level contract with the 23-year old winger today. Pope had the chance to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but will instead sign with the team who drafted him five years ago.
That draft was in 2013, when the Red Wings made Pope their fourth-round pick, 109th overall. He returned to the BCHL for one season before heading for the NCAA, where he would develop into a top level scorer. The 6’3″, 194-lbs forward ended with 41 points in just 35 games this season for the University of Nebraska-Omaha, including an impressive 12 powerplay goals. His speed and power will give him a good chance at the NHL as soon as next season. Topher Scott of The Athletic (subscription required) broke down some of Pope’s talents earlier this season, highlighting his excellent skating ability as a difference maker in his overall game.
While the Red Wings are in a sort of rebuild, they have enough talented young players on the roster that they could take a step forward next season offensively. Pope should fit into that group nicely, giving them another option for the powerplay and some more talent on the wing. It’s not guaranteed that he’ll start in the NHL, but since he’ll be 24 by the time the season starts, there won’t be much seasoning left for him in the minors, or overall development for his game.
Red Wings Nearing Deal With Prospect David Pope
The Red Wings are closing in on finalizing a contract with prospect winger David Pope, reports Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. She adds that the two-year, entry-level deal could be made official over the next few days.
Pope was Detroit’s fourth-round pick (109th overall) back in 2013 and recently wrapped up his college career at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He saved his best play for last as Pope set career highs in goals (20), assists (21), and points (41) in his senior year.
The team had approached Pope about signing late in the season but his preference was to stay at school to wrap up his classes. The Red Wings are intent on getting younger and the 23-year-old could very well make a push for a roster spot in training camp.
As a senior, Pope could have opted to not sign and would have become an unrestricted free agent on August 16th. However, he had indicated back in February that he intended to not go to the open market and it appears he will be sticking to his word in the days to come.