Henrique ready to be ‘thrown into the fire’ with Oilers

COLUMBUS -- Adam Henrique experienced deja vu walking into the visitors’ dressing room at Nationwide Arena on Thursday.

The forward was there to meet his new teammates on the Edmonton Oilers after he and forward Sam Carrick were traded by the Anaheim Ducks for a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft on Wednesday.

For Henrique, it was the second trade of his NHL career. The first came Nov. 30, 2017, when the New Jersey Devils sent him to the Ducks. His first game for Anaheim? Dec. 1 in Columbus. He had one assist in a 4-2 loss.

“I’m having, like, flashbacks coming in here,” he said. “It’s the first day of school again. It’s kind of funny how things work.

“I've been through it once before. A quick turnaround, just coming in and going to play, meet the guys and kind being thrown right into the fire. But I think for us as athletes that helps to just be on our normal schedule.”

The 34-year-old had 42 points (18 goals, 24 assists) in 60 games  for the Ducks this season and has 521 points (257 goals, 264 assists) in 890 NHL regular-season games. He also has 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 28 Stanley Cup Playoff games, 24 in 2011-12 with the Devils and four for the Ducks in 2017-18.

“He does some really good things,” Oilers center Connor McDavid said. “Just a hard player to play against. He makes it hard for the other team.”

The Oilers (38-20-2) are second in the Pacific Division heading into their game at the Blue Jackets on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, SNW). They reached the Western Conference Final last season and the second round in 2021-22. They have not been the Stanley Cup Final since the 2005-06 season and have not won the Stanley Cup since the 1990 season.

The Ducks (23-36-3) are seventh in the Pacific, 24 points out of a playoff spot with 20 games to go.

“It’s an exciting time for us, for me, to get an opportunity here for the playoff push and a deep run. That’s what we play for,” Henrique said.

His experience and versatility are why the Oilers wanted him. He will play left wing on a line centered by Leon Draisaitl with Evander Kane on the right. He could even move around the lineup.

“We're looking at him playing that left wing with Leon or center on the third line,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said of Henrique. “He’s on pace for about 25 goals this year so he’ll definitely be a good complement for Leon and, hopefully, the sooner we put those guys together, see what they have, hopefully we can build some chemistry.”

Henrique is eager to contribute anywhere he can, and Knoblauch said he and Carrick will be used on the penalty kill.

“I'm sure things will get shifted around quite a bit,” Henrique said. “It’s nice to be able to play center and wing I guess. Just that versatility a little bit. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to just go out there and play some hockey.”

McDavid can’t wait to see Carrick and Henrique in the lineup.

“Great people but great players as well,” he said. “Character guys that can help our room. Obviously their on-ice game is strong as well.

“The fact we don’t have to send anybody away helps a lot.”

The Oilers made another trade Thursday, acquiring defenseman Troy Stecher and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft from the Arizona Coyotes for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

Stetcher has five points (one goal, four assists) in 47 games this season and 108 points (19 goals, 89 assists) in 487 games. The 29-year old can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.