With NHL training camps set to open up in just a few weeks(!) time teams are starting to invite unsigned free agents to camp on a tryout basis.
The latest example of this came today when the Calgary Flames invited veteran forward Chris Higgins, most recently of the Vancouver Canucks, to camp on a PTO.
After consecutive 36+ point campaigns Higgins' had a disaster of a season last year. He scored just three goals and recorded four points while playing in 33 NHL games with the Canucks. As a result of his struggles the Canucks elected to send him to their AHL Affiliate, Utica, where he scored nine times and added 13 points in 22 games.
Despite Higgins' offensive woes last season he wasn't a complete disaster. With Higgins on the ice at 5 v 5 the Canucks' controlled 46.4% of the shot attempts - as opposed to 47.3% without him - so it wasn't as if he was single handedly sinking the Canucks.
At 33 years of age Higgins' best days are certainly behind him but it's possible he could still hold his own in a depth role. Whether that proves to be true or not it can't hurt for the Flames to bring him in and find out.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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