Oilers expected to re-sign veteran center acquired at deadline

Adam Henrique.

The Oilers have made a couple of additions up front today with the signings of Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner while bringing back veteran wingers Connor Brown and Corey Perry as well.  It appears they have one more move to make at forward as TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports that center Adam Henrique is expected to return to Edmonton.  The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta adds that the veteran will get a two-year deal, with Rishaug confirming a $3M cap hit ($6M total value).

A new deal for Henrique certainly makes the first-round pick Edmonton gave up for him at the trade deadline all the more worth it. After being acquired from the Ducks, the 34-year-old put up decent secondary scoring numbers but was a tad underwhelming, producing nine points in 22 games. That’s a 34-point pace over an 82-game season, less than he scored in only 60 games with Anaheim prior to the trade.

Henrique struggled with injuries in the playoffs, missing a few contests in Edmonton’s run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, but elevated his game when it mattered. He averaged important third-line minutes, logging 14:06 per game, and contributed four goals and three assists in 17 games with a +3 rating. Two of his goals were game-winners.

Now, despite having limited cap space, Edmonton’s already improved their forward group from the one that just got them within one goal of a championship. It’s fair to assume one player may be moved out, though. A $3M cap hit for Henrique puts Edmonton roughly $2.5M over the $88M salary cap next season. Whether a cap-clearing trade comes via a forward or defenseman remains to be seen.

If Henrique produces closer to the 50-point pace he’d logged the past few years with the Ducks, even for just the first half of this new deal, it’s a bargain contract for Oilers acting GM Jeff Jackson. It’s clear the Oilers have no intention of doing anything but running it back next season with Leon Draisaitl entering the final year of his contract and Connor McDavid having only two years left on his deal.

With Arvidsson’s and Skinner’s additions (and Jackson saying publicly he expects them in the top six), Henrique will slot into a third-line role for the Oil next season, likely on Ryan McLeod’s wing.

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