March 6, 2024 by Ryan Lotsberg

The Edmonton Oilers acquired Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. Brennan Klak has the full details of the deal in the Tweet below:

#Ducks trade Adam Henrique (75% retained), Sam Carrick (50% retained) and a 2024 7th round pick to #Oilers for a 2024 1st round pick and a 2025 conditional 5th round pick. #Oilers dealt a conditional 2026 4th round pick to #TBLightning to help retain 25% of Henrique. (1/2)

— Brennan Klak (@nhlupdate) March 6, 2024

Pierre LeBrun wrote that Henrique was a “primary target” for the Oilers on Tuesday. Bob Stauffer had mentioned Carrick as a possible addition several times. Stauffer also said that the Oilers were looking to add two forwards without moving anyone off the current roster during Tuesday’s broadcast of the Oilers game against the Boston Bruins. Check and check.

Related: Oilers 2024 Trade Deadline Rumours

Henrique is a 34-year old with 521 points in 890 NHL games with the New Jersey Devils and the Ducks. The Brantford, ON native has 42 points in 60 games this season. Carrick is a 32-year old with 48 points in 224 NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ducks, including eleven points in 61 games this season.

The Oilers needed to add scoring to their lineup. Henrique has eighteen goals this season, which is the fifth highest total on the Oilers this season. Eleven of those eighteen goals are even strength goals, which is also fifth on the Oilers. According to Blue Bullet Brad, Henrique’s 0.9 five on five goals per 60 since 2021-22 would also put him fifth on the Oilers. His work at even strength is important because he won’t get much powerplay time, if any at all. Henrique is a surprisingly good finisher. He’s got a 16.2% shooting percentage this season, and he has never finished a full season under 12.6%. His worst shooting percentage in his seven seasons with the Ducks was 13.5%. It’s safe to say that Henrique will add some scoring to the Oilers lineup.

I’m not sure where Henrique will slot into the lineup though. Henrique is a middle six forward that offers the versatility of playing centre or left wing. That’s something of an awkward fit to my eye because the Oilers needed help at right wing, but there are several options for line configurations with Henrique.

Henrique could play left wing on the second line. That would bump one of Evander Kane or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins down to the third line. That still leaves Warren Foegele or Mattias Janmark at right wing on the second line, which is frustrating as a fan. I’m not sure that Henrique, Kane, or Nugent-Hopkins have ever played their off-wing in the NHL, but that’s an option to explore as well. Kane is a shooter, so playing his off-wing might actually benefit him.

Henrique could also centre the second line. Ideally Leon Draisaitl would centre the second line, but we know that Draisaitl and Connor McDavid play together at times. The issue of who would play right wing on that second line still remains though. This is a thought I’ve had many times before, but Draisaitl plays the wing when he plays with McDavid. He can play both sides comfortably. I’ve wanted to try Nugent-Hopkins at centre with Draisaitl on his right side for years now. The same thought process applies with Henrique here. Kane – Henrique – Draisaitl could be an interesting line that would allow the Nugent-Hopkins – McDavid – Hyman line to stay together.

The Oilers have needed depth scoring for years. This year is no different. Henrique could bolster the third line. Former teammate Corey Perry could be a fit alongside Henrique, although they had little success in minimal ice time together in Anaheim. Having Henrique at 3C could bump Ryan McLeod to the wing, where his speed is an asset. McLeod is not a top six winger, but his speed has been a factor in his few moments of temporary success on a line with Draisaitl.

Henrique can also kill penalties. Carrick kills penalties as well. Carrick is the right-handed fourth line centre that the Oilers have been trying to find for a couple of years now. He won’t provide as much offence as Nick Bjugstad did last season, but he will kill penalties and win faceoffs. Luke Gazdic offered a lot of praise for Carrick:

He was my captain in SD. Wins face offs, blocks shots, kills penalties and has a lot more skill than you’d think. Adds a lot of grit. Doesn’t mind dropping the gloves if he has to. He’s a guy you win with

— Luke Gazdic (@lukegazdic) March 6, 2024

Janmark, Derek Ryan, and Sam Gagner have all played centre in their careers, but all of them are better suited as wingers at this stage in their careers. Dylan Holloway has been deployed at centre a few times recently, but he has always played left wing in the NHL aside from those few games. Carrick will be an upgrade at 4C over those players.

The Oilers added $1,881,250 in annual cap spending with Henrique at 25% of his cap hit and Carrick at 50% of his cap hit. Stauffer has said that the Oilers are planning to add a depth defenceman as well. Sam Gagner cleared waivers today, which means that he can be sent down to Bakersfield. The Oilers are now carrying fifteen forwards and six defencemen, so I expect that Gagner will be assigned to the minors and that the Oilers will add a defenceman with a cap hit of approximately $800,000 by Friday.