March 7, 2024 by Eric Friesen

The Edmonton Oilers traded their first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Anaheim Ducks for centres Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick on Wednesday.

Per Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, the Ducks will retain 50% of Henrique $5.825 million cap hit and Tampa Bay Lightning will also retain 25%. The Oilers are sending the Lightning a conditional fourth-round pick in 2024 NHL Draft in the deal, while Tampa is giving Edmonton the right to reserve goalie Ty Taylor. The Ducks are also keeping 50% of Carrick’s $850,00 cap hit.

With Friday’s trade deadline rapidly approaching, Henrique will almost certainly be the Oilers’ most significant in-season addition this season. Henrique is a strong two-way centre who can produce offence at five-on-five and be an effective penalty killer.

Henrique was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the third-round (82nd overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft from the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. Henrique played four seasons (2006-2010) with the Spitfires, notching 111 goals and 228 points in 238 career OHL games. He won two OHL championships and two Memorial Cups with the Spitfires in 2009 and 2010. The Brantford, Ontario native also won the 2010 Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL most valuable player in the playoffs and played in the 2010 OHL All-Stars Game.

The 6-foot, 195-pound centre has played with the Devils (2011-2017) and the Ducks (2017-2024), tallying 257 goals and 521 points in 890 career NHL games. Henrique was a finalist for the 2011-12 Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year and was named to the 2011-12 NHL All-Rookie Team. He helped the Devils reach the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. Internationally, Henrique has represented Canada at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship (silver) and the 2019 (silver) and 2021 (gold) IIHF World Championships.

Related: Oilers Acquire Henrique and Carrick

The 14-year NHL veteran is expected to make his Oilers debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. After making just two playoff appearances in his career thus far, Henrique is thrilled to have the chance to chase hockey’s ultimate prize this spring.

“It’s exciting,” said Henrique in a phone interview with the Edmonton media on Wednesday. “That’s it, really. In Anaheim, we obviously haven’t been in since I’ve been here, so to join a team in their position, and to join a team looking to win a Stanley Cup, that’s what we all play for. So, I’m just excited to have that opportunity now, and I’m just excited to join the guys and get things going.”

With Henrique now in the fold, the Oilers are loaded down the middle. While many Oilers fans have him penciled into the third line centre spot in Edmonton, Henrique is open to playing the wing, if that’s where the team needs him.

“Honestly, I have no idea where I’ll be playing,” said Henrique. “We haven’t got that far yet. But as far as centre or wing, to me, it doesn’t really matter. If I’m playing on the wing, I’m playing with another centre, and I’ve done that throughout my career when I was in New Jersey, and even before that, too. So, any time you play with two centres, it’s a bonus. I don’t really have a preference. It’s really just wherever I can slot in, and whatever the team needs to make a better lineup.”

The 34-year-old has 18 goals and 42 points in 60 games this season, and is on pace to score 25 goals for the fourth time in his career. With no spots available on the top power-play unit, it was important for the Oilers to add a forward like Henrique who give them some offensive punch in the bottom-six.

“I’m just looking to add to the depth of the team,” said Henrique. “Clearly they are a highly offensive and explosive team with a lot of skill. So, I don’t expect to go in there and play on the first line. I’m just trying to add to the depth and bring a veteran presence to the group, a calming influence on the ice wherever that may me. If it’s on the penalty kill, I’m comfortable playing in all situations.”