Photo Credit: Brad Rempel/USA TODAY Sports

The Vancouver Canucks have shocked the hockey world today, announcing their plans to trade winger Chris Higgins in the coming days as the NHL’s trade deadline approaches.

From the official release:

The announcement comes at within seconds of Team President Trevor Linden made a similar statement at the Canucks’ annual season ticket holder Town Hall, citing the need for the team to move forward with its youth. “We’ve come a long way recently. There will be ups and downs, but the injection of youth is something we’re excited about.” Linden said. “We feel we have a good, competitive team and we think our young players will be the driving force in that. 

News that Higgins will be moved isn’t shocking, but the public and transparent manner that the Canucks have gone about it certainly is. Typically, a team won’t rush to tell the entire world that a player is available, as it puts them in a weaker position in negotiations. One can assume that the team has unsuccessfully tried to move him in the prior days, and have moved onto the “take what you can get” stage, hoping enough teams have just enough interest to create a mini bidding war that generates positive value.

Higgins has had arguably the worst season of his career in 2015/16. HIs 0.6 even strength points per 60 minutes is his worst season by nearly half and sees him producing at about a third of the rate he has in the last two seasons in Vancouver. His 45.4% Corsi-for percentage is the lowest he’s had since shot-based possession stats started being comprehensively tracked, and quite poor compared to the 50.4% that the team generates with him off the ice. No regular Canucks forward is more likely to allow the opposition to shoot while they’re on the ice this year.

Higgins’ struggles may come from the fact that he isn’t getting any younger; the native of Smithtown, New York turns 33 in June. But they could also come from his pre-season injury; a blocked shot during Vancouver’s preseason debut on September 22nd fractured Higgins’ foot and kept him out of the lineup until November 4th. Perhaps it’s possible that it’s still ailing him more than he’s admitting. Maybe the right team for him isn’t a competitor looking for the missing piece, but a rebuilding team willing to shut him down for a few months to fully rehab himself and return to the team next season. 

Higgins, prior to this year, was a serviceable high-event forward that could produce above expectation on a scoring third line. If he can be that again, he’s certainly worth the salary that he’s being paid; $2.5 million a year until next summer.

As it stands, though, the Canucks have plenty of pieces to play around within his region of the lineup, in very different stages of their career. Jake Virtanen is back in the lineup after returning for the World Juniors, and the clock is ticking on deciding whether he’ll head back to the Calgary Hitmen. Given that today is the WHL Trade Deadline and the Hitmen are in a “Win Now” position, it’s likely that Vancouver has already informed them of their decision; even if the Canucks don’t announce their decision publicly today, or make the move associated with it immediately. Emerson Etem is due to join the team soon after being acquired on Friday. Benning isn’t kidding when he says there’s plenty of youth breathing on Higgins’ back, and the last thing you want to do is stifle their development.

It’s a shame to see Higgins go from solid cog in the machine to an odd man out so rapidly. Higgins has been with the team since 2011 when the team acquired him as a deadline acquisition for the Florida Panthers. The cost of Evan Oberg and a 3rd round pick was, with all things considered, an extremely shrewd one, to the point where the team likely won’t be stressed if they don’t get a huge return back. In playing 346 regular season and playoff games for the Canucks, Higgins has already paid himself off. Realistically, they’ll probably end up settling for a conditional draft pick and a freed up roster spot.