Blueshirts, Higgins Agree on a Contract
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New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather
announced today that the club has agreed to terms with restricted
free agent forward Christopher Higgins.
Higgins, 26, was acquired by the Rangers, along with Ryan McDonagh
and Pavel Valentenko, from the Montreal Canadiens, in exchange for
Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt and Mike Busto on June 30. He has skated in
282 regular season contests with Montreal, recording 84 goals and
67 assists for 151 points, along with 96 penalty minutes. The 6-0,
205-pounder has eclipsed the 20-goal mark three times.
In 2007-08, he established career-highs in games played (82),
goals (27), assists (25), points (52), power play goals (12),
game-winning goals (five), and shots (241). He led Montreal in
shots, tied for second on the team in power play goals and
game-winning goals, and ranked third in goals. He was also one of
only three Canadiens to skate in all 82 games during the season.
Higgins registered 11 points (six goals and five assists) in the
first 13 games of the season, and went on to surpass the 20-goal
plateau for the third straight year.
Higgins appeared in 57 games with the Montreal Canadiens this past
season, registering 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points, along
with 22 penalty minutes. He tied for second on the team with two
shorthanded goals, and placed sixth on the club with 151 shots
despite missing 25 games due to injury. In addition, he led the
Canadiens in goals (five) and shots (40) during the month of
November. He tallied his first career hat trick on November 11 vs.
Ottawa to cap off a season-high, four-game scoring streak that
began on November 1 at the New York Islanders, registering six
points (four goals and two assists) over the span.
As a rookie in 2005-06, he led Montreal with three shorthanded
goals. In addition, Higgins has registered six goals and five
assists for 11 points in 22 career postseason contests with
Montreal.
The Smithtown, New York, native was originally Montreal’s
first round choice, 14th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
