Written by Chris Johnston, Daniel Nugent-Bowman, and Eric Stevens
The Edmonton Oilers are acquiring forwards Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from the Anaheim Ducks for a draft pick, a league source said.
The Oilers are sending the team's first-round pick in 2024 and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2025 to complete the deal, a team source familiar with the matter said. Additionally, the fifth round could improve to the fourth round if Edmonton wins the Cup this season.
the #NHLDucks They would get draft picks back in the deal by sending Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick to Edmonton.
– Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 6, 2024
A third-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2008, Henrique played parts of eight seasons in New Jersey before being traded to the Ducks during the 2017-18 season. Over 890 regular-season NHL games, the 34-year-old center has scored 257 goals and 521 points.
Carrick, a fifth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2010, split his time between the AHL and NHL during his 12-year professional career.
Henrique is a versatile forward who can play as a midfielder, participate in the power play and take penalty kicks when needed. The 32-year-old Carrick, who carries a cap hit of $850,000, also has a killer penalty kill and can be relied upon in the faceoff circle.
The Oilers are on a five-game winning streak and are in second place in the Pacific Division. The Ducks are seventh in the Pacific Division.
What the Oilers get in Henrique, Carrick
The Oilers wanted more offensive skill and size at No. 6. They checked both boxes in one trade with the Anaheim Ducks.
Henrique can play at both center and wing, providing plenty of roster flexibility for coach Kris Knoblauch. He could skate alongside Leon Draisaitl or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the second line or the middle of the third or fourth line in a depth role.
Carrick, a minor hockey teammate of Oilers winger Zach Hyman, will provide more size and toughness to Edmonton's fourth line.
Carrick and Henrique rank first and second among Ducks forwards in short ice time, so they'll be options on the penalty kill as well. Both players are pending unrestricted free agents. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman, Oilers staff writer
How did the Ducks fare with their return?
With some middling to somewhat underwhelming prices for useful, quality forwards in recent days, the Anaheim Ducks' 2024 first-round pick for two unrestricted free agents who likely didn't re-sign and — especially in Henrique's case — qualifies as a win for the general manager. Pat Verbeek.
Now, this pick wouldn't be high given the Edmonton Oilers' position in the standings and potential finish, but it gives Anaheim their second overall pick in this year's first round to pick another top-three pick after taking Leo Karlsson with the No. 2 pick last year. An extra pick for 2025 wouldn't hurt, especially with Verbeek getting an additional third-round pick next year from Toronto for Ilya Lyubochkin.
Henrique was the first remaining spot on the impending unrestricted free agent market, and Verbeek took advantage of the 34-year-old's strong season (18 goals, 42 points, plus 3 seed for a lower-division team) to get a good price from the Oilers' all-around team, which Looking to win the Stanley Cup. He and Carrick were well-respected in the Ducks room but the two were not an integral part of their future.
To help fill out their lineup for Wednesday's home game against Ottawa, the Ducks called up forwards Pavol Regenda and Glen Godin from the American Hockey League's San Diego Gulls. — Eric Stevens, NHL staff writer
Required reading
(Photo by Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick in March 2022: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
“Coffee ninja. Web fan. Hipster-friendly beer enthusiast. Professional creator.”