For Tyler, it’s about becoming an everyday pro,” Spott said. “He is hard on himself, puts a lot of pressure on himself, and I think he works extremely hard on and off the ice.
“We are expecting more of a complete game. I think it has been an adjustment, but he has bought into it and he is playing a great checking role for us.”
Spott doesn’t want to stifle Biggs’ offence, but might have more patience as the native of Binghamton, N.Y., has been adjusting to playing centre. It’s the trickle-down effect from Marlies injuries and from the Leafs, who have plucked Trevor Smith and Jerred Smithson from the Marlies’ centre ranks thanks to the absences of Dave Bolland, Tyler Bozak and to a lesser extent, Nazem Kadri.
“It’s more than one change,” Biggs said of moving into the middle from the wing. “In your own end, you are thinking a little bit more, you are looking for guys, you are trying to stay on the defensive side of things.
“If things are not going your way in the circle, that can get pretty frustrating, too. At the same time, it helps because I always have my feet moving and I am getting to the pucks first now. Not that I wasn’t before, but I feel more consistent with it.”