The Red Wings traded prospect forward David Pope to the Vancouver Canucks for defenseman Alex Biega on Oct. 6.
It is always valuable to have a veteran defenseman around, especially when the Wings were losing so many of theirs to injury.
But one thing that Biega in particular brings to the table is perspective when it comes to rebuilding.
Biega played seven games for the 2014-15 Vancouver Canucks, who finished with 101 points (48-29-5) and finished second in the Pacific Division.
The following four seasons the Canucks fell to 75 points (31-38-13), 69 points (30-43-9), 73 points (31-40-11) and 81 points (35-36-11).
So Biega knew exactly what it was like to go through tough times while focusing on getting better on a daily basis.
Biega saw Vancouver improve through the draft, getting forwards Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat, along with defenseman Quinn Hughes.
Those players helped the Canucks make it through the qualifying round and first round before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in this year's 24-team playoff in the bubble.
Right before the COVID-19 pandemic caused the NHL to pause the season, the Wings signed Biega to a one-year contract so he will continue to be that calming presence on the blue line when the 2020-21 season begins.
49 - Biega played 49 games for the Wings during the 2019-20 season, two shy of the career-high 51 he played for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2015-16 season.