Oilers Have a Big Decision to Make on Adam Henrique

Adam Henrique is 36, on a one-year, $3 million deal that’s about to expire. Now what? He isn’t the 20–30 goal guy from his prime anymore. Nobody will hand him that kind of money for scoring. But stepping back, the real question isn’t if he can still score. It’s whether he makes the team better when the games really matter.

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Henrique Isn’t Going to Light Up the Screen Anymore

Henrique isn’t out there for highlight-reel stuff anymore. He’s the guy who does the annoying, ugly jobs that you only notice when they’re gone. He’ll excel on the penalty kill and will block shots.

He also wins the gritty battles in front of the net. If he’s healthy, he chews up those minutes. He’s been there, and he’s done that. For a team like the Oilers, who are always chasing the Stanley Cup, he’s steady, boring reliability. He’s a coach’s dream. Plus, if an injury comes, he’s a solid fit. Good minutes, without much drama.

But Henrique Plays a Drama-Free, Reliable Game

Beyond the big numbers, Henrique brings a calm, simple ability to slow the game down. He’s drama-free and leads by example: take a hit, block a shot, make the safe play. He’s also a good mentor for the Oilers’ young guys and a veteran presence who can steady a lineup during tight series and grueling March–April stretches.

Now, the downsides: he’s banged up more often than you’d like. And his offensive upside is gone. At 36, you can’t pencil him in for heavy minutes every night. And $3M for a fourth-liner won’t work. That bumps up against cap realities. There are cheaper, younger options that could be plugged in. So it’s a risk-reward call.

There Could Be a Space for Henrique on the Oilers’ Roster

My take: if Edmonton wants offence and long-term upside, skip him. If they want a short-term, low-drama veteran who stabilizes the fourth line, kills penalties, and helps the kids grow up a little faster — bring him back.

But do it on a one-year, team-friendly deal with a few incentives. Keeps the leash short and the risk low. If Henrique still has one more useful season in him, Edmonton gets a steady hand for the playoff grind without mortgage-level commitment.

Related: Oilers Keeping Close Eye on Connor McDavid Situation