Vet of 700 NHL Games Joins the Comets

by Mark Caswell, Jr.

Jan 13, 2016 Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the club has reassigned left wing Chris Higgins to the AHL Utica Comets.

Higgins, 32, has appeared in 25 games for the Canucks this season where he has registered three points (2-1-3) and four penalty minutes. He appeared in his 700th career NHL game on December 28, 2015. During the 2014.15 season, Higgins skated in 77 games with the Canucks, where he ranked fifth on the team in scoring with 36 points (12-24-36) along with 16 penalty minutes. He also notched a goal and an assist (1-1-2) in six games during the 2015 Playoffs.

In parts of 12 NHL seasons, the Smithtown, New York native has appeared in 703 career regular season games split between Montreal, the New York Rangers, Calgary, Florida, and Vancouver. In that span, he has recorded 332 points (164-168-332) along with 220 penalty minutes. In addition, Higgins has registered 21 points (11-10-21) and 10 penalty minutes in 62 career playoff games.
Higgins last appeared in the American Hockey League during the 2004-05 season for the Hamilton Bulldogs where he recorded 51 points (28-23-51) in 76 games. His 28 goals scored were second-most on the team, while his 51 points were third-best. His only other AHL experience came during the year prior with the same Bulldogs where he scored 21 times and chipped in 27 assists in 67 games.

The 6’0″, 195-pound forward was acquired from Florida in exchange for Evan Oberg and a 2013 third round pick on February 28, 2011. He was originally selected by Montreal 14th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.