NHL veterans hope to impress in pre-season

Chris Higgins had a few bites this summer.

But there was nothing as appealing as playing in the Western Conference, close to his off-season home in West Vancouver, where his young daughter and wife will stay this season.

“This was an ideal fit for me,” the 32-year-old New York native said of the professional tryout offer from the Calgary Flames.

Higgins understands the situation he is in. Nothing is guaranteed. Nothing is certain.

And there is only one way for him to change that. “I’ll have to play well in the games,” Higgins said.

“Everyone kind of feels like they’re pulling a U-Haul around on the ice ... but I think I’m ready to play. In the past, I’ve just used (preseason) as opportunities to get into shape and tried to get a game sense of how fast things move on the ice.

“I’m going to have to approach it differently in the first game I play. I’m going to have to put it a little more on the line, for sure.”

After spending the better part of the last six seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, they bought him out after the 2016 NHL Draft.

With only three goals and one assist and a minus-14 rating in 33 games, he fell victim to the youth movement.

With more than 700 NHL games under his belt — 12 of them with the Flames in 2010 — Higgins, a left-winger, has an opportunity this pre-season to show he still brings plenty to the table.

On Monday, Higgins started the Flames’ split-squad game in Edmonton on a line with fellow former Canuck Linden Vey and Emile Poirier.

“I have confidence in myself and I have a good relationship with Glen (Gulutzan),” Higgins said.

“And that’s where we’re at. I need to make their decision as hard as possible.

“I have to make them think long and hard about signing me to a contract.” The only problem? He’s not the only one. In addition to all of the youngsters and highly-touted draft picks eager to prove themselves, Higgins is up against fellow PTO invitee Lauri Korpikoski, also a left-winger.

Korpikoski also played in Edmonton on Monday night, starting on a line with Mark Jankowski and Matt Frattin.

The 30-year-old has already skated in meaningful games, suiting up for Finland at the World Cup of Hockey.

“It was a good thing to be a part of and certainly helps coming into camp here,” said Korpikoski, who has a connection with Flames general manager Brad Treliving from their time in Arizona. “I’ve played six games already and kind of have the rust out of me and have the pace up so, yeah, it definitely helped. I feel good on the ice.”

The Flames are Korpikoski’s fourth NHL team after spending one season with the Edmonton Oilers, where he scored 10 goals and had 12 assists in 71 games.

With open spots up for grabs among the Flames’ forward group, the pre-season is the time to shine for players on tryouts.

“Games are what they’re looking at,” Korpikoski said. “You can work on your habits and push the pace in practice. But, at the end of the day, you have to show you belong and find a role and deliver.

“I’m looking forward to getting some games in.”