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The Canucks are actually hoping that Ryan Kesler recovers well enough and quickly enough from off-season shoulder and wrist surgery but in case he doesn't, Higgins could be the man down the middle. Higgins played some center as a member of the Montreal Canadiens but has played on the left side in Vancouver. "It's was kind of an on-and-off thing and my first couple of years [in Montreal] I played more center," he recalled. "I'm obviously more comfortable playing the wing. Playing center as not a long-term thing, I know I can play the position and I know I can play it well. I could definitely fill in and I'm all for it if it's what's needed. It would take a little bit of a learning process, but I could pick it up pretty quickly."