An interesting series of reports surfaced that makes the one believe NHL clubs are now taking a more a reasoned approach to signing free agents rather than the free spending that usually graces the early days of signing frenzy.
This week two players, Jaret Stoll and Chris Higgins signed professional tryout contracts with Columbus Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames, respectively.
Stoll, 34, skated with the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild last season in a dreadful campaign for him that ended with nine points.
Jarret Stoll (28) tries to get around Scott Hannan (27) – Photo by Jack Lima
The Rangers waived him in December and the Wild picked him up after that. He had four goals on the season.
“I trained this summer like I was going to training camp with a team, just to make sure that I was ready for when it happened,” Stoll said in an interview with The Columbus Dispatch. “… But it’s up to me now to earn a spot and prove I deserve to be on the team. They’ve got some good young players. I have to beat out one, maybe two players on the roster if I’m going to make it, so there’s a challenge there.”
With two Stanley Cups in his resume, Stoll has fallen a long way to professional tryout contracts.
But on a Jackets team that needs some cohesion, Stoll may provide some direction if he is shape and ready for the season.
“Jarret’s been in the NHL a long time, he’s won two Stanley Cups,” Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said on NHL.com. “This gives him a chance to show us what kind of shape he’s in, and it gives us a chance to see if he can help us.”
Higgins, who is 33, signed a tryout contract with the Flames and he seems more realistic than most on the whole process.
“I look at it the same as every camp. Contract or no contract, training camp is tryouts,” Higgins told the Calgary Sun. “It’s really the same mentality I’ve always had. I’m just looking to come into camp and make the team.”
After a little more than four seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, Higgins’ contract was bought out leaving him a free agent.
Chris Higgins
After no offers were evident, a chance to play this season through a tryout was the only viable option.
“You look at the year prior to last, he was an important player in Vancouver,” Flames general manager Brad Treliving said on NHL.com. “I think when you really analyze last year, he suffered an injury early in the preseason and never got his footing. … Now, can he get back to the form he was at a year or two ago? If he can, then good for him and potentially good for us. So we’ll see.”
The opportunity in Calgary is one where Higgins can provide some veteran leadership to a young team that lost a step last season and missed the playoffs.
“Chris had a tough year in Vancouver. But prior to that, he was a good player, he was a productive player,” Treliving said on NHL.com. “There’s some versatility in his game, in terms of being able to play either wing. He’s a very good penalty killer. And he’s an experienced guy. I know we get to the 30 age-mark and everybody starts to quiver a bit, but there’s still some hockey left in him. He’s going to come in and compete for a spot, and it’s always good to have competition in camp.”
Last season was a lost effort for Higgins who netted three goals and an assist in 33 games with the Canucks. Injuries hampered him and he was waived in January. But he cleared waivers unclaimed and was demoted to the Utica Comets of the American League.
This may be the final chances for both players to make an impact in the NHL as they both head into the back ends of their careers. But the Flames and Jackets need help and Stoll and Higgins certainly have experience to teach and share.
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