Well he scored 23 as a rookie, while spending half the season on the bottom 2 lines. It's really not that unrealistic to expect 30 goals with a full season of top 6 ice time for the Higgster.
I love Higgins and all, but some peoples expectations are a little high. If he can match what he did last year, i'll be happy. Chris will now be focused on more by defenses and coaches, and it will likely be tougher. I have faith in him, but people will be looking for him now.
I must agree with you on this one...Higgins seems to have a good head on his shoulders and hopefully this should help him stay in the same frame of mind he was last season. He's a competitor and I expect him to still play at 100%
I love Higgins and all, but some peoples expectations are a little high. If he can match what he did last year, i'll be happy. Chris will now be focused on more by defenses and coaches, and it will likely be tougher. I have faith in him, but people will be looking for him now.
He was in the top 5 pint getters in the second half. That`s trememdous. He played with different guys all season, most of the time not on the first two lines. When he started playing with Saku he was a rocket. So the assumption that if he plays with him all year he may have better numbers is justified.
I love Higgins and all, but some peoples expectations are a little high. If he can match what he did last year, i'll be happy. Chris will now be focused on more by defenses and coaches, and it will likely be tougher. I have faith in him, but people will be looking for him now.
i am with you for this one ...
Sure that i think that he could make 30 goals , because he has all the tools , but if he just scores 17-20 goals , i am going to be happy .As you said , the other teams are going to play more around him , next season .
He was in the top 5 pint getters in the second half. That`s trememdous. He played with different guys all season, most of the time not on the first two lines. When he started playing with Saku he was a rocket. So the assumption that if he plays with him all year he may have better numbers is justified.
Making assumptions is what gets people in trouble.
I like Higgins, probably my second favourite hab, but last year was almost a perfect rookie year for him. Everything went right, which is very rare. How will he respond to being keyed in on? Will the sophomore jinx hit? Can he sustain the pace he was at near the end of the season?
He does have the potential to score 30 but give the kid a break. We have people talking 30 goals, Koivu getting a 100 points. I am all for optimism but keep in reality here as well.
I for one can't wait til we get to talk about something meaningful instead of all these fantasy tales of trades, rumors, and projections.
I love Higgins and all, but some peoples expectations are a little high. If he can match what he did last year, i'll be happy. Chris will now be focused on more by defenses and coaches, and it will likely be tougher. I have faith in him, but people will be looking for him now.
he played most of the 2nd half of the season on the top line...that automatically means he was checked by top checkers and top defense for that 2nd half. I dont see how NOW hes going to be checked more. he was checked like a 1st line player. i think you are underestimating Higgins.
i for one wouldnt be happy with the same point totals as last year. (assuming of course he stays on one of the top 2 lines all year)
Or he could very well be more potent in the last half of the season. We saw this in his last year in the AHL and now his rookie season in the NHL. He seems to be the type to turn on the afterburners when the games mean more, which isn't really a bad thing. I could be wrong, but we will see. I just hope if he has a slow start to the season, nobody jumps on his back for it, that's all.
I would rather see him with Plekanec, I think those could me a way more effective FOR TEAM as checking line + PKs and very dangerous in offensive zone with their cycling etc...
Higgins scored 16 goals in the last 26 games of the year... I really don't see why he couldn't score at least 30 playing all year on one of the top 2 lines. Actually, if he doesn't, I will consider this an under-achievement on his part.
While I am in the group that think HIggins can and should score 30, I am aware of teh sphomore slump and as long as he goes out and plays hard game in and game out I'll be happy. But I do think the prodcution will be there, this kid is a stud.
If Koivu stays healthy and everyone's predictions of Ryder scoring 40 and Higgins scoring 30. That makes about 70 assists for Koivu perhaps?
70 assists even strength, then +10 for passing it to Markov and Souray before they blast it past the goalie. The Koivu will pot in 20 himself. 100 pts season for Koivu!
70 assists even strength, then +10 for passing it to Markov and Souray before they blast it past the goalie. The Koivu will pot in 20 himself. 100 pts season for Koivu!
If he stays healthy, and our other plays play to their 'potential', it's not out of the question. A full year of Koivu (knocks on wood), on a good team, will put up impressive numbers.
