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#21 Christopher Higgins 2007-08


Guest JL

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I see higgins in more of a two way role considering we have so many offensively gifted people like the kostitsyns and tanguay coming in to lighten the load. Higgins will be getting more garbage goals (i hope), because when he goes to the net he gets great chances. What bothers me about higgins is that he shy's away from skirmishes and trouble, which for me, seeing as how he wears an A (might not next season), is a huge turnoff.

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I see higgins in more of a two way role considering we have so many offensively gifted people like the kostitsyns and tanguay coming in to lighten the load. Higgins will be getting more garbage goals (i hope), because when he goes to the net he gets great chances. What bothers me about higgins is that he shy's away from skirmishes and trouble, which for me, seeing as how he wears an A (might not next season), is a huge turnoff.

The ironic part about all this is that he does have a two way role because he stays out of the skirmishes. I.E. he makes himself available/open for the puck to either be able to shoot or to be able to backcheck quicker. Because when you're entangled around the net you're usually the last person on the backcheck. And that's why you see him as defensiveley responsible and not 100% on the offensive (not being able to finish the numerous chances he gets). But that also speaks of his inexperience - even when he shoots he already thinks of backchecking, yet if he concetrated on burrying the chances he wouldn't have to backcheck for the puck that is already in the opponent's net. Anyway it'll come to Chris, I'm sure. And something tells me that Tanguay will be one of the people that will influence his evolution as an NHL'er.

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The ironic part about all this is that he does have a two way role because he stays out of the skirmishes. I.E. he makes himself available/open for the puck to either be able to shoot or to be able to backcheck quicker. Because when you're entangled around the net you're usually the last person on the backcheck. And that's why you see him as defensiveley responsible and not 100% on the offensive (not being able to finish the numerous chances he gets). But that also speaks of his inexperience - even when he shoots he already thinks of backchecking, yet if he concetrated on burrying the chances he wouldn't have to backcheck for the puck that is already in the opponent's net. Anyway it'll come to Chris, I'm sure. And something tells me that Tanguay will be one of the people that will influence his evolution as an NHL'er.

My good friend, thank you. I have used this same arguement, almost in verbatim in trying to figure out Ryders' lack of production but better defense. I applied it to Higgy and Koivu also. Yet I get shot down with Ryder just sucks. The only diff, Ryder has slightly more experiance than Chris, but he was told to focus on the defensive role. But I certainly do give props to Higgy for still having a great year, the extra ice time really made a difference.

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My good friend, thank you. I have used this same arguement, almost in verbatim in trying to figure out Ryders' lack of production but better defense. I applied it to Higgy and Koivu also. Yet I get shot down with Ryder just sucks. The only diff, Ryder has slightly more experiance than Chris, but he was told to focus on the defensive role. But I certainly do give props to Higgy for still having a great year, the extra ice time really made a difference.

I don't think you can really compare the two. Granted, you can compare anything.. say like an apple and a peach... ;)

Did you decide which hab is going to be your new favourite yet? :D

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The ironic part about all this is that he does have a two way role because he stays out of the skirmishes. I.E. he makes himself available/open for the puck to either be able to shoot or to be able to backcheck quicker. Because when you're entangled around the net you're usually the last person on the backcheck. And that's why you see him as defensiveley responsible and not 100% on the offensive (not being able to finish the numerous chances he gets). But that also speaks of his inexperience - even when he shoots he already thinks of backchecking, yet if he concetrated on burrying the chances he wouldn't have to backcheck for the puck that is already in the opponent's net. Anyway it'll come to Chris, I'm sure. And something tells me that Tanguay will be one of the people that will influence his evolution as an NHL'er.

i don't mean battles in front of the net, i mean when the whistle blows and there's pushing and shoving, chris always seems to not care very much.

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i don't mean battles in front of the net, i mean when the whistle blows and there's pushing and shoving, chris always seems to not care very much.

Some people don't have that type of thing in their personality, but I believe the coaching staff dictates a bit of that.

With the way the officials call things now of days.........

Why lose a player like Higgins for two minutes for a scrum after the whistle ?

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I don't think you can really compare the two. Granted, you can compare anything.. say like an apple and a peach... ;)

Did you decide which hab is going to be your new favourite yet? :D

I actually have two favourites currently with the Habs. Koivu and Kovalev. I love Saku's heart and determination. I love Kovy when he brings his "A" game. After that, I have the utmost respect for every Hab on the roster, and for those that provided us with entertainment during their tenure. Those that do leave, I always wish them luck. Those I personnaly like, I will follow their careers, but as always, will cheer the Habs. Oh, wether it's apple or peach cobbler, it's still sweet to me. LOL.

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Some people don't have that type of thing in their personality, but I believe the coaching staff dictates a bit of that.

With the way the officials call things now of days.........

Why lose a player like Higgins for two minutes for a scrum after the whistle ?

oh comon, how often do they give out penalties for pushing and shoving? Koivu does it when stuff starts, kovy will be in there, even the self proclaimed 'girly man' pleks is in it, and he's no bigger than higgins. And i'd rather lose higgins for 2 than komi for 5, so why not tell komi no fighting? I think higgins' only real flaw is that he thinks a big highly of himself, i might be entirely wrong and i admit that, so nobody jump on me, but from what i gathered from interviews and his demeanor on the ice, he just isn't one of my favs. Love his 2 way play tho.

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Oh my God, is this going to be the next "Michael Ryder thread?" :lol:

Higgins is a wonderful player. Despite his inability to finish, he had what? 27 goals last season? He's still very young, waiting to enter his prime, and is under contract for a wonderful price. I know we have plenty of players in the same mold in our system, but Higgins is contributing now. Higgins in assistant captain now. I think his demeanour, regarded by as overlords as cocky might be just exhuberant. He's excited, he's happy to be a Hab, he wants to be a leader. There's nothing wrong with that? Am I right? ;)

He's only going to grow! :)

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Hopefully he comes back even stroger next year.

Just think if he was to finish some of those easy tap ins he had last year, he would easily have a ton of more points.

After reading this I had quite a few flashbacks of Higgins missing some tap ins by inches, I have faith in him though and can't wait to see him this season.

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oh comon, how often do they give out penalties for pushing and shoving? Koivu does it when stuff starts, kovy will be in there, even the self proclaimed 'girly man' pleks is in it, and he's no bigger than higgins. And i'd rather lose higgins for 2 than komi for 5, so why not tell komi no fighting? I think higgins' only real flaw is that he thinks a big highly of himself, i might be entirely wrong and i admit that, so nobody jump on me, but from what i gathered from interviews and his demeanor on the ice, he just isn't one of my favs. Love his 2 way play tho.

I agree with the previous poster some players just don't like getting into skirmishes. Doesn't mean they don't try hard, just they don't have that anger to them.

Back to my comment though, I don't understand though why everyone on this board is convinced Higgins is going to be a 3rd liner. If a few pucks were an inch to the left he'd of have 35 + goals. Although the argument is, "hes not a natural goal scorer" yet he scored 20, 24 (i think) and 27 in his 1st three seasons respectively. He will only get better and if anyone had paid attention at the trade deadline, he was the most saught after asset from GM's, because of his potential and his already rising talent.

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Oh my God, is this going to be the next "Michael Ryder thread?" :lol:

Thinking about it now, something tells me that yes it might. :unsure: But it all depends on how much Chris will want to grow. Now he has three star veterans to learn from (let's hope it's going to be 4) and with all the young'uns pushing from behind this is the best time to show why he was picked 14th overall in 2002. I say if he fails to at least repeat last season's production people are going to start questioning his potential.

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Thinking about it now, something tells me that yes it might. :unsure: But it all depends on how much Chris will want to grow. Now he has three star veterans to learn from (let's hope it's going to be 4) and with all the young'uns pushing from behind this is the best time to show why he was picked 14th overall in 2002. I say if he fails to at least repeat last season's production people are going to start questioning his potential.

If he doesn't get his PP time and top 6 duties that people think he won't then theres no way he can repeat last years numbers.

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Well... the only reason why he wouldn't get on top 6 from the get go is if Sundin gets signed then Chris will most probably get either dumped to the 3rd line with either Koivu or Pleks or still might end up on the same line with Sundin. Either way he'll still be playing with a top 6 center anyway. He'll probably have his time diminishing a little bit, but that's all. From there it's all in his hands and feet.

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Well... the only reason why he wouldn't get on top 6 from the get go is if Sundin gets signed then Chris will most probably get either dumped to the 3rd line with either Koivu or Pleks or still might end up on the same line with Sundin. Either way he'll still be playing with a top 6 center anyway. He'll probably have his time diminishing a little bit, but that's all. From there it's all in his hands and feet.

If we sign Sundin, our third line becomes a legit scoring line by default, so it wouldn't even be a demotion for Higgins to play on the third line.

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If we sign Sundin, our third line becomes a legit scoring line by default, so it wouldn't even be a demotion for Higgins to play on the third line.

That's basically what I'm saying in response to sportsfreak_39 post where he was saying that if Higgins was to produce less when he's dropped to the 3rd then it is justifiable.

Anyway personally I'll be completely fine with Higgins getting 45pts for 20G and 25A especially if he finally appears in the play offs.

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That's basically what I'm saying in response to sportsfreak_39 post where he was saying that if Higgins was to produce less when he's dropped to the 3rd then it is justifiable.

Anyway personally I'll be completely fine with Higgins getting 45pts for 20G and 25A especially if he finally appears in the play offs.

it would be perfect if we had 3 scoring lines as opposed to two, that way he racks up less points and expects less money when he becomes rfa :D

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Regardless of whether or not we sign Sundin...I don't see Higgins starting the season on anything but the 3rd line.

Kostitsyn-Plekanec-Kovalev

Tanguay-Koivu-Kostitsyn

That's how I see the top 2 lines playing out if we don't get Sundin.

Higgins on the 3rd line with Chips and Lapierre, probably...

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