Pinizzotto/Higgins Sign With Canucks

Canucks President & GM Mike Gillis announced the Canucks have signed right wing Steven Pinizzotto.

Pinizzotto, 27, spent the 2010.11 season with the Washington Capital’s AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. He collected 42 points (17-25-42) and 178 penalty minutes in 68 games.

The 6’1”, 195 pound forward also appeared in 6 AHL playoff games, recording four points (2-2-4) and six penalty minutes.

He finished the regular season with the team’s best plus/minus at plus-40.Prior to his time spent in the AHL, Pinizzotto he spent two seasons with RIT.

In 2006.07, he led the team in scoring with 44 points (13-31-44), ranked fifth in Division 1 hockey with 0.91 assists per game and 12^th in points per game (1.29/game).

The Mississauga, Ontario native helped earn RIT the Atlantic Hockey regular season championship in 2007.

Higgins Signs:

Mike Gillis announced that the Canucks have signed left wing Chris Higgins.

Higgins, 28, split the 2010.11 season with Canucks and Florida Panthers, collecting a total of 28 points (13-15-28) in 62 games played.

In the 2011 playoffs, Higgins recorded eight points (4-4-8) in 25 games played and tied a franchise record for most game-winning goals in a playoff year (3).

The Smithtown, New York native has appeared in 411 career games, recording 196 points (105-91-196) over the span of seven NHL seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, Panthers and Canucks.

The 6’0”, 205 pound left winger was originally selected 14^th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.