Tyler Biggs hopes to shed 'bust' label in move from Maple Leafs to Penguins

Tyler Biggs is ready to prove the doubters wrong.

The 22-year-old's career with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization didn't go well for either side after he was drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft, which led to his trade - as part of the Phil Kessel deal - to the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team with which he hopes to turn his career around.

"I can’t say anything bad about Toronto. I think they’re a great organization. Maybe the timing wasn’t right?" Biggs told Jenn Menendez of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Or maybe it wasn’t that great of a fit. I couldn’t tell you. I’m just excited to be a part of the Pittsburgh organization and see what’s to come."

Prior to being drafted, Biggs was a legitimate goal-scorer for the Oshawa Generals, tallying 26 in 60 games in 2012-13. But things dried up for him when he hit the pro level, which led to a different role and a drop in point production.

"When I was drafted, I scored. I did kind of everything. You come into the pros and your debut is with a heavy veteran team and you slide into a third, fourth-line role, penalty-kill and that sort of thing," said Biggs. "You do it the second year, you kind of become accustomed to it. I think it’s something I just kind of slid into."

Biggs is currently recovering from an Achilles injury he suffered in March, and will likely begin the season in the AHL, according to assistant general manager Tom Fitzgerald - an assignment the executive believes will restore Biggs's confidence.

"We have to build his game and understand what he is. Build some consistency. (In the AHL), you're competing with your teammates on who has earned that call-up," said Fitzgerald. "You have potential like this kid has, it's our job to pull out that potential."