The Edmonton Oilers and other teams are going to have to pay a hefty price to obtain elite players as the NHL trade deadline of March 8 draws near. The Oilers’ options may vary depending on the costs associated with acquiring Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan, but forward Adam Henrique of the Anaheim Ducks is a common name in trade talks. There are rumors that the Oilers are interested.
According to recent sources from The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, Henrique is among the players in high demand this season. The veteran center is reportedly being pursued by the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Oilers. Despite criticism of his footspeed and defensive ability, the 33-year-old has gained notice due to his skillful net-front scoring and hockey intellect.
The Ducks have had trouble on the penalty kill, despite Henrique devoting a lot of time to it. In the league, they are ranked 25th. It might not be necessary for him to contribute there because Edmonton has improved their special teams this year. Additionally, it’s unclear how Henrique would line up for the Oilers—who just acquired Corey Perry—or who else.
What Are Insiders and Media Saying About Henrique and the Oilers?
Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff suggested that the Oilers might juggle things around to make a deal work. One suggestion was to keep Ryan McLeod on the wing or form potent offensive combinations with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Meanwhile, others have weighed in on Henrique to Edmonton.
Having signed a five-year, $29M contract with the Ducks, Henrique has a cap hit of $5.825 million per season. That poses a possible issue for the Oilers. But, the Ducks also have plenty of cap space to retain 50%. Henrique has been a consistent performer in his 14th NHL season. He has registered 15 goals, 17 assists, and 32 points in 48 games.
