Canucks add Jason King and Chris Higgins to coaching staff
A pair of former Vancouver Canucks players have joined Travis Green’s coaching staff.
Canucks GM Jim Benning has announced that Jason King and Chris Higgins have been promoted from within the organization.
King, who has served as an assistant coach with the Utica Comets for the last four seasons, will serve as one of Green’s assistant next season. He takes the spot vacated by Manny Malhotra, who left for Toronto in the offseason.
Higgins is the team’s new skills and development coach, after serving as the assistant director of player development last season. He takes over from longtime skills coach Glenn Carnegie, who is leaving the team to “pursue a new opportunity,” after 12 seasons with the Canucks.
“We’re excited to add Jason King and Chris Higgins to our coaching staff,” Green said in a media release. “Jason is a bright, young coach with an eye for the technical aspects of the game. He enjoyed a long playing career, and with his coaching experience in Utica, showed an ability to guide young and veteran players alike.
“Chris brings a wealth of NHL experience as a player, great knowledge of the game and a strong work ethic. He’ll support the skill and development of our players and expanded roster while working alongside our team and coaching staff day-to-day.”
King’s 11-year pro playing career included 55 games with the Canucks from 2002 to 2004, including a short but successful run for the Corner Brook, Newfoundland native on a line with Henrik and Daniel Sedin.
Higgins helped the Canucks reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2011, as part of the Smithtown, New York native’s six seasons with the team from 2011 to 2016.
The Canucks coaching staff is now set for next season, with not much time to spare before training camp begins on January 3. The staff also includes assistant coaches Nolan Baumgartner and Newell Brown, goaltending coach Ian Clark, and video coach Darryl Seward.
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