Vancouver Acquires Chris Higgins

To Vancouver:
Christopher Higgins 









To Florida:
Evan Oberg 
3rd Round Draft Pick in the 2013 






Review:
The Canucks main goal heading into the deadline was to upgrade their bottom 6 group of forwards. This deal did exactly that by adding the 27 year old, Chris Higgins to their club. Higgins has had a very interesting career thus far in which he started out as a big time scorer with the Canadiens to becoming a outcast that took the first contract that came his way to now where he has turned into a decent 3rd line type player. This deal gives him another opportunity and "new chapter" to his career. The speed he brings to the table will be useful to the Nucks' PK which will be boosted by this deal. So far this season he has 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 48 games played and also had one of the best plus/minus's on the Panthers with a +5. The assets the Canucks gave up for Higgins were not too valuable so I am sure they are happy with this. Those assets include 23 year old defenseman Evan Oberg and a 3rd round pick in 2013. Oberg may have a future in the NHL but his potential is not huge as his upside would probably be a depth defenseman. So far this season in Manitoba of the AHL, he has put up only 11 points in 37 games played. The draft pick is good for the re-building team but it being a 2013 pick, the player drafted in that spot most likely won't make an impact until 2016 if ever. 


Short-Term Winner: Canucks, they give up very little for a player they needed. He will play an important role in their bottom 6.


Long-Term Winner: Canucks, they get Higgins who is still on the early side of his career at 27 years old and gave up assets that don't have a huge chance of materializing into anything of value.