I guess I someone has to be devil's advocate. I know everyone is justifiably furious with Higgins and wants him locked away for life, but even within the hockey community we've seen people turn their lives around from similar things. Craig MacTavish killed a lady drunk driving, served one year, then continued out a long career both playing and in management. Dany Heatley didn't serve a single day for the accident that killed Dan Snyder. Rob Ramage was sentenced to four years for the accident that killed Keith Magnusson but it was suspended and most of it was under day parole at a halfway house.
Then there's a ton of hockey players who were caught driving under the influence and thankfully managed to not hurt anyone in the process. Ray Bourque blew three times the legal limit after he rear-ended someone, and he only got a 45-day license revocation. Monty got a DUI during his drinking days, but the narrative on him is how inspirational he is for turning his life around and staying in recovery. So I guess in the end let's not hang this Sean Higgins guy just yet, people are capable of turning it around.
MacTavish is a notable case - he did kill someone through his bad decision, and that can never be taken back. But he's not only served his time, he established a relationship with the woman's family and earned their forgiveness. So time will tell how things turn out with Higgins and the Gaudreaus.