By the following season, he had earned a full-time job with the Hawks and tallied 25 points in 74 games. In 1980-81, Higgins had his career best point totals - 24 goals and 35 assists in 78 games. His totals were not far behind the next year when he combined for 50 points in 74 games. His numbers started to fall off somewhat in 1982-83 and deteriorated even more the following season when lack of ice time and disagreements with coaching staff took a heavy toll.

After a trade to the New Jersey Devils in January 1984, Higgins bounced back, scoring 18 goals in 37 games with the Devils. The next two seasons Higgins was again in good scoring form, and he remained with the Devils until the end of the 1985-86 season. In June of 1986 he was traded to Detroit for Claude Loiselle. Higgins played his last two professional seasons with the Red Wings, retiring in 1989 after 706 NHL games.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame