Chris Higgins: "I had jump in my legs"
Oct 10, 2004 10:11:55 GMT -5
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Oct 10, 2004 10:11:55 GMT -5
The Bozolator returned this:
04-10-2004
He and the Bulldogs bode well for the Canadiens
Mathias Brunet
La Presse
Caledonia, Ontario
Once the lockout is over, in three or six months, a year perhaps, the Canadiens could have an interesting team.
Time to allow its young hopefuls to develop and join Saku Koivu, Richard Zednik, Radek Bonk, Mike Ribeiro and Michael Ryder.
Two of these exceptionally gifted young players, Chris Higgins and Andrei Kostitsyn, showed Sunday evening during the second Bulldogs exhibition game why management sees them appearing on the Habs first two lines in the long run.
Higgins, a first round choice (14th overall) in 2002, was by far the best player on the ice in this 3-2 victory at the expense of the Saint John's Maple Leafs. He picked up an assist, a superb pass between two pairs of skates to defenseman Philippe Plante on the club's first powerplay goal, and he was dominant from beginning to end thanks to his speed and his tenacity.
Higgins did not seem rusty even though his last game was months ago. "I had jump in my legs. There were a lot of young guys on the bench and their enthusiasm gave me energy. I felt really good. It's day and night compared to last season, my first in the pros. I am definitely more confident."
Kostitsyn, younger at 19 years old, will have to polish his play but he already has speed and some NHL calibre moves. He played a much better match than the day before in Rochester. His goal in the first period was worth the price of admission. He made a furious entry into the offensive zone and whipped a sharp and powerful shot that found the top left corner of the net after nicking the crossbar. The goalie didn't even move.
One understands a little more why the Canadiens scout and former GM of the Senators and Mighty Ducks, Pierre Gauthier, said this first choice (10th overall) in 2003 already had one of best the arsenals of shots in hockey...
Of the three other Hamilton rookies, two were likely to play a second game in as many nights; Corey Locke and Cory Urquhart. Locke, a brilliant player junior who piled up 269 points in 131 games in his last two seasons in Ottawa, centered Kostitsyn and he didn't do badly, especially in the second half of the game. Urquhart, a second round choice in 2003, still seems a little green for the American League. Michaël Lambert, his former teammate in PEI, did not play.
Coach Doug Jarvis, a strict teacher, did not want to praise his young players too much (except Higgins, for whom he seems to have endless admiration) in spite of the victory. "Our young players have still many things to learn", he confided after the game. "Their effort is certainly better than the day before in Rochester (a 5-0 demolition), they skated better but one could note a certain slowing down on their part in the second half of the game. We were the victim of too many turnovers in the neutral zone. Our wingers will have to be more solid."
This remark was addressed to Kostitsyn among others. "Coming to North-American professional hockey is not an easy challenge. He will have to correct certain things before becoming a complete player. He'll go through a normal period of adjustment. One sees brilliant flashes on his part. But he will have to improve other aspects of his play, eliminate the turnovers, avoid giving up the puck to the opposition when he doesn't have any more room to operate."
Kostitsyn will play for a master of defense. After one year under the supervision of Jarvis, this natural scorer could become a responsible player while being spectacular at the same time.
Bob Gainey's right hand and GM of the Bulldogs, Andre Savard, the man behind the selection of Higgins and Kostitsyn, left the arena in a good mood Sunday evening. "Imagine if Alexander Perezhogin were still with Bulldogs this season", he mused with a half smile.
Bulldogs will train Monday and Tuesday in Caledonia, near Hamilton, before playing a third exhibition match Wednesday evening.
04-10-2004
He and the Bulldogs bode well for the Canadiens
Mathias Brunet
La Presse
Caledonia, Ontario
Once the lockout is over, in three or six months, a year perhaps, the Canadiens could have an interesting team.
Time to allow its young hopefuls to develop and join Saku Koivu, Richard Zednik, Radek Bonk, Mike Ribeiro and Michael Ryder.
Two of these exceptionally gifted young players, Chris Higgins and Andrei Kostitsyn, showed Sunday evening during the second Bulldogs exhibition game why management sees them appearing on the Habs first two lines in the long run.
Higgins, a first round choice (14th overall) in 2002, was by far the best player on the ice in this 3-2 victory at the expense of the Saint John's Maple Leafs. He picked up an assist, a superb pass between two pairs of skates to defenseman Philippe Plante on the club's first powerplay goal, and he was dominant from beginning to end thanks to his speed and his tenacity.
Higgins did not seem rusty even though his last game was months ago. "I had jump in my legs. There were a lot of young guys on the bench and their enthusiasm gave me energy. I felt really good. It's day and night compared to last season, my first in the pros. I am definitely more confident."
Kostitsyn, younger at 19 years old, will have to polish his play but he already has speed and some NHL calibre moves. He played a much better match than the day before in Rochester. His goal in the first period was worth the price of admission. He made a furious entry into the offensive zone and whipped a sharp and powerful shot that found the top left corner of the net after nicking the crossbar. The goalie didn't even move.
One understands a little more why the Canadiens scout and former GM of the Senators and Mighty Ducks, Pierre Gauthier, said this first choice (10th overall) in 2003 already had one of best the arsenals of shots in hockey...
Of the three other Hamilton rookies, two were likely to play a second game in as many nights; Corey Locke and Cory Urquhart. Locke, a brilliant player junior who piled up 269 points in 131 games in his last two seasons in Ottawa, centered Kostitsyn and he didn't do badly, especially in the second half of the game. Urquhart, a second round choice in 2003, still seems a little green for the American League. Michaël Lambert, his former teammate in PEI, did not play.
Coach Doug Jarvis, a strict teacher, did not want to praise his young players too much (except Higgins, for whom he seems to have endless admiration) in spite of the victory. "Our young players have still many things to learn", he confided after the game. "Their effort is certainly better than the day before in Rochester (a 5-0 demolition), they skated better but one could note a certain slowing down on their part in the second half of the game. We were the victim of too many turnovers in the neutral zone. Our wingers will have to be more solid."
This remark was addressed to Kostitsyn among others. "Coming to North-American professional hockey is not an easy challenge. He will have to correct certain things before becoming a complete player. He'll go through a normal period of adjustment. One sees brilliant flashes on his part. But he will have to improve other aspects of his play, eliminate the turnovers, avoid giving up the puck to the opposition when he doesn't have any more room to operate."
Kostitsyn will play for a master of defense. After one year under the supervision of Jarvis, this natural scorer could become a responsible player while being spectacular at the same time.
Bob Gainey's right hand and GM of the Bulldogs, Andre Savard, the man behind the selection of Higgins and Kostitsyn, left the arena in a good mood Sunday evening. "Imagine if Alexander Perezhogin were still with Bulldogs this season", he mused with a half smile.
Bulldogs will train Monday and Tuesday in Caledonia, near Hamilton, before playing a third exhibition match Wednesday evening.