Update: Sunday, February 21, 2021: Adam Henrique has cleared waivers. As you’ll see mentioned below, we didn’t think a team would bite on Henrique’s high salary, despite some decent reasons to take a longer look at him as an option.
Original Story:
There have been some interesting names on the waiver wire this season. The most interesting to date might have hit the wire Saturday when the Anaheim Ducks placed Adam Henrique on waivers. A good player with an expensive contract, it will be interesting to see if there is any interest out there for him.
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Henrique is in the second year of a five-year deal that carries a $5.825M cap hit. It’s hard to imagine a team being keen to jump on this contract despite the fact that Henrique is a second line centre who’s strong defensively and has a great shot. He’s struggled this season with only three goals one assist in 16 games this season. That said, he scored 26 in 71 last season and some teams could consider this before just dismissing the idea of picking him up.
One of the reasons a team might take a look is because this is really the first season Henrique has struggled as badly as he has thus far. That could be an indication that things are going the wrong direction for him, or it could be because of his environment. He’s on a team that has received terrible goaltending, isn’t strong or competing and that’s not his fault.
Still, That’s a Lot of Money in Today’s NHL
He’s a good player. It would be one thing if he was performing well and this was just the Ducks trying to see if another team might help them with some salary concerns. But, because he’s struggling, the question will be if he’s good enough to warrant the money he’s making in a financially tight NHL marketplace.
Henrique was selected in the third round of the 2008 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils. He has played 681 games and registered 382 points in the NHL.
Next: Will the Oilers’ Tyson Barrie Keep Ethan Bear Off the Top-Pairing?
John
February 20, 2021 at 3:13 pm
He’s on a team w terrible goaltending? Have you heard of John Gibson? The team is terrible but Gibson is one of the best goalies in hockey.
NHL Trade Talk
February 21, 2021 at 12:30 pm
That’s fair. John Gibson is excellent. I suppose I should have said poor defense surrounding the goaltending and noted the speculation of a possible Gibson trade.