Rangers Analysis: Time to worry about Higgins?
I think you guys know by now I'm not a "panic button" kind of guy. However, in the case of Chris Higgins, let's just say I'm making sure I know where it is, and that the batteries in it are good. At this point, I think you can't help but be worried about him.
When Glen Sather sealed the deal that sent Scott Gomez to Montreal we here at the Banter praised him for the move. The Rangers moved a huge contract and an underachieving player for a young hungry winger and a brilliant defensive prospect. In the end the Rangers saved almost 5 million dollars in cap space for the next five years--money which undeniably allowed the Rangers to obtain Marian Gaborik--and obtained a top-flight prospect to boot. The deal was incredible, Rangers nation rejoiced.
Now let me be perfectly clear here before I start this little rant, Higgins can most definitely bounce back and start playing his brand of hockey. But seeing as how he is 11 games into the season with just two assists (both came in one game) and no goals, things are not going well. Not only is he not producing but for the past five or six games he has been invisible or even detrimental when he is on the ice. Including the other night against the Habs when he took a penalty while the team was already down a man, a move which aided in him getting benched for the rest of the game.
While you most certainly cannot blame Higgins alone for this current three game skid, you can definitely point out that his poor play has been a big part of them. I don't care if his play doesn't necessarily lead to opposing team goals, he was brought here to be a top six forward and currently he might not even crack the top nine. Thus far this season the Rangers have lost three one goal games, including the other nights overtime loss to the Montreal Canadians; any goals from Higgins would have helped.
Anyway, in my personal opinion, it's time to start worrying about Higgins. Eleven games without a goal is a big problem for any top-six forward. In fact it's a problem for any top-nine forward let alone a guy some people thought might see time on the first line.
I hope that the benching that John Tortorella enforced works it's magic. I don't think anyone here can say that Tortorella wasn't patient with him, but enough is enough, Higgins needs to produce and he needs to do it soon. For every ones sake.
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I agree. I think the benching will help and should spark him. If it does not, he needs to sit out a game and just watch and then start over with a clean slate.
I thought Higgins played very well in the first few games and was unlucky and never scored. Consequently he started pressing more and eventually lost his confidence.
I have full faith in Chris recovering and getting back on track.
Couldn’t have said it better myself, hopefully he can find the back of the net sooner than later
Good story Joe
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Oct 26, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Playing in front of family at every home game also leads to pressing. He’ll settle in and start producing. He needs a dirty goal to get going, off the butt, head, something like that.
I say
But him on the top line for the game tonight. Plays shitty like he has been, put him up to the press box and call up Grachev.
OUCH MY ELBOW HURTS!
we talked about this on the other thread
but I’ll say it again here. Grachev has 3 goals and 4 assists in 9 games in hartford, not exactly dominant. If you are going to bring up anyone make it Parentanu or Locke, both are playing out of their heads
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by Joe Fortunato on Oct 26, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
he really just neeeds that first goal to be honest.
but until he does that, hes hurting the team more than helping.
stick him on the 4th line for a game or two if you have too
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Hustle?
You can stick him on the third line and then the fourth, but the apparent lack of effort will not hide itself. The only thing that Torts requires each and every shift is hustle and effort (see Voros). If Higgins weren’t scoring but were playing great muck it up hockey in the corners and on defense, there wouldn’t be an issue. He’s either not a very good skater or is hiding an injury, because he just looks 2 steps too slow out there. Having on Drury’s wing did not help with this issue. I’m all for seeing him play, but just don’t have any high hopes.
Joe- great point that the Gomer trade enabled us to sign Gaborik. That basically means it was Gomer for Gaborik and anyone else we got in the mix is gravy. Even if Higgins doesn’t produce and gets shipped out of town, so long as Gabby fights off the injury bug, it is the best move that Sather has pulled off in his tenure as GM.
by Blueshirts Rock on Oct 26, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Agree...
… Higgins has never been a huge scorer anyway. Around 20 was the expectation. What IS expected is the hard nosed hockey work ethic. It seemed to be there at the start but is now gone. He seems to be floating around in the offensive zone and gliding back on the backcheck. This is not Chris Higgins hockey. I don’t care if he scores – get in there and muck it up. Goals will come.
It doesn’t even seem (to me) like he’s pressing. Seems more like he’s a little lost.
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Disagree on his potential scoring. I think the Rangers see him as a guy capable of scoring 30 goals. His numbers were headed in that direction, he had 27 in 2007-08 before being injured last year. But if he is going to get to 30, or even 25, he better get moving.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Oct 26, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
At least Lisin seems to be getting more comfortable and is working hard. Seems like a kid with good attitude and skills , so hopefully he starts scoring more as the season progresses.
yes he has been a fun surprise
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by Joe Fortunato on Oct 26, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

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