The Vancouver Canucks have recalled Chris Higgins from the Utica Comets in advance of their Saturday night tilt with the St. Louis Blues. Higgins, 32, has been playing with the Comets since being sent down in mid-January. 

An injury to Radim Vrbata’s knee facilitated the recall. Will certainly cost him a few games time, anyways. Vrbata suffered an ankle injury in the third period of last night’s game against the Edmonton Oilers. Although the play itself seemed innocent enough, the injury sustained therein could cost Vrbata significant playing time going forward.

Higgins has 13 points, 9 goals 4 assists, in his 22 games of AHL action with the Comets. Comets players, Alexandre Grenier in particular, have gone at length to praise Higgins leadership qualities in that span.

The clock may have struck midnight on Higgins time as a Canuck, but a good showing down the stretch might be enough to convince another franchise to take a flyer in the off-season. No word on whether Higgins will join the Canucks lineup tonight against the Blues. That seems the most likely scenario, although, Markus Granlund has begun skating with the team.