Chris Higgins
Mar 2, 2003 12:48:26 GMT -5
Post by montreal on Mar 2, 2003 12:48:26 GMT -5
I got to watch him play last night against one of the top teams in the NCAA. They lost to Cornell 3-0, but Higgins was Yale's best player. He was used in every situtation and played the point on the PP.
What I think is his strongest asset is his skating. Very fluid and looks effortless. His speed is decent but not great. He is big for NCAA, but in the AHL/NHL this wont be the case. He did have a few good hits, but I wouldn't call him a phyiscal player in the few games I have seen him in. He had some nice passes, but his shots were even better. No slappers, but his wrist shot was a good one. He got is off fast and on net from anywhere inside the blueline.
One thing that really stuck out about him is that he hovers. He doesn't rush into the play, nor is he caught too far out of position. In every situtation he was in, he was always aroudn the puck, but not neccessarly directly involved in the play. I would say he has very good hockey sense, as he knew where to put himself at all times. If he had better talent around him his point totals would be even higher. His 38 pts leads the team, but it's his 1.58 or so pts per game average that stands out. I think that if he stays in the NCAA, he could be up for the Hoby Baker next year. I can't wait to see what he can do for the Habs down the road, but like I said at HF, I don't see him as a Peca clone or even our future 3rd line center. He has very good instincts with the puck and with solid stickhandling, skating, speed, and wrist shot, I see him as a top 6 forward that is good in his own end and can play the PK.
What I think is his strongest asset is his skating. Very fluid and looks effortless. His speed is decent but not great. He is big for NCAA, but in the AHL/NHL this wont be the case. He did have a few good hits, but I wouldn't call him a phyiscal player in the few games I have seen him in. He had some nice passes, but his shots were even better. No slappers, but his wrist shot was a good one. He got is off fast and on net from anywhere inside the blueline.
One thing that really stuck out about him is that he hovers. He doesn't rush into the play, nor is he caught too far out of position. In every situtation he was in, he was always aroudn the puck, but not neccessarly directly involved in the play. I would say he has very good hockey sense, as he knew where to put himself at all times. If he had better talent around him his point totals would be even higher. His 38 pts leads the team, but it's his 1.58 or so pts per game average that stands out. I think that if he stays in the NCAA, he could be up for the Hoby Baker next year. I can't wait to see what he can do for the Habs down the road, but like I said at HF, I don't see him as a Peca clone or even our future 3rd line center. He has very good instincts with the puck and with solid stickhandling, skating, speed, and wrist shot, I see him as a top 6 forward that is good in his own end and can play the PK.