Adam Henrique signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. It has an average annual value of $3 million.
The 34-year-old forward, who was an unrestricted free agent, had 51 points (24 goals, 27 assists) in 82 regular-season games for the Oilers and Anaheim Ducks last season, including nine points (six goals, three assists) in 22 games with the Oilers after he was acquired in a trade with the Ducks on March 6.
He had seven points (four goals, three assists) in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games for Edmonton, which reached the Stanley Cup Final and lost to the Florida Panthers in seven games.
"To be back and have the opportunity to be in the playoffs really did rejuvenate me,” Henrique said Tuesday. “Being on a rebuilding team for a number of years, it’s hard. Early in the season come November and early December and knowing you’re not going to make the playoffs, you have to find a reason to play. At the end of the day we play hockey to win and when you don’t have that opportunity, you have to find it within to be a difference-maker on the team you’re on because you want good teams to want you.
“I think on the rebuilding teams, the roles and things are different rather than being on a Cup contending team and that was something I was all for at this point in my career. Maybe you sacrifice a bit of ice time or money at the end of the day, but to have the opportunity to win and to play in front of those fans was special for me.”
Selected by the New Jersey Devils in the third round (No. 82) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Henrique has 530 points (263 goals, 267 assists) in 912 regular-season games for the Oilers, Ducks and Devils, and 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 45 postseason games.
The Oilers also signed Mattias Janmark to a three-year, $4.35 million contract ($1.45 million AAV) on Monday.
The 31-year-old forward, who was an unrestricted free agent, had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 71 regular-season games for Edmonton and eight points (four goals, four assists) in 25 playoff games.
“At this point in my career, you only really care about winning,” Janmark said June 26. “So thinking about leaving here is obviously incredibly tough because you’re so close. That’s for sure a part of it, and you have to take that into consideration and make your decision from there.”
Selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round (No. 79) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Janmark has 195 points (80 goals, 115 assists) in 557 regular-season games for the Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars, and 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 91 postseason games.
“Free agency is coming up here quick, so I’m going to have to start thinking about it a little,” Janmark said June 26. “But you want to win. It’s always tough to leave a team and players that you feel you can win with. That will have to go into consideration and then you’ll have to look at your options.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to turn down too much money, to be honest. I don’t think there’s going to be too much out there, but I want to win and we’ll see what’s out there. This will always be one of two or three options and we’ll take it from there.”
NHL.com staff writer Derek Van Diest contributed to this report
