Higgins agrees to terms with the Rangers (Flickr).
Glen Sather released a press release today announcing that the New York Rangers have agreed to terms with RFA forward Christopher Higgins.
ESPN has reported it's a one-year contract worth $2.25 million.
The 26-year-old was part of the packaged deal that sent Scott Gomez to the Montreal Canadiens last Tuesday.
The 2007-08 season was Higgins’ best season, as he recorded a total of 52 points with the Canadiens. Last season; however, he had some injury problems (upper body-shoulder) and recorded just 23 points in 57 games.
Higgins will be a valuable asset to the Rangers' penalty kill, possibly taking the place of the departed Fredrik Sjostrom. Higgins had two shorthanded goals last season, so he knows how to operate as well as proved to be a threat during the penalty kill.
Below is the Press Release:
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.
Comments
Not bad. I expected some kind of ridiculous contract with Sather involved.
I don't mind the one-year deal, but it should have been for less money. I don't think Higgins is worth $2.25 million a year.
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