Adam Henrique Should Be Untouchable During NHL Trade Deadline

The trade deadline is just days away, and fans are playing general manager while the teams try to get better. Some fans have floated the idea that Adam Henrique should be a trade chip for the New Jersey Devils.

It feels like the calm before the storm. The few days before the NHL Trade Deadline are some of the most fun in the year for hockey. There are thousands of articles coming out detailing just how crazy this week is going to get, including right here on Pucks and Pitchforks (that’s a cheap pop).

During this week, fans may get a little crazy, too.

Seemingly every player on every team is up for grabs. While some made-up trades are just for the thought, like Conor McDavid for Austin Matthews. Others, however, can turn into something that actually happens.

People have been talking about the availability of center Adam Henrique. The truth is, there should be no availability.

The expansion draft that is coming up in the offseason makes one reason why the Devils may make Henrique available. Him being somewhere else would mean that the team would not have to protect him from the Vegas Golden Knights.

Henrique has not lived up completely to his expectations. His best season is still his rookie year, when he centered a line with Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise. Obviously, he hasn’t played with nearly that kind of talent in the five years since, but he has still been very good.

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At 27 years old, he has 235 points. He had his first 30 goals season last year. Henrique is on pace to score 20 goals this season.

The issue with Henrique is he has been inconsistent. He was about the only player to play well in December, scoring five goals. Then he will go two weeks without lighting the lamp.

Despite his downfalls, Devils GM Ray Shero should hang up the phone if teams ask for Henrique.

He has shown in years past he can adapt to almost any situation. Whether he’s told to play with a skilled shooter who is slow like Jaromir Jagr or someone fast as lightning but doesn’t have his mechanics down like Miles Bell. He can adapt to any of these players. That kind of player is hard to explain on a stat sheet.

The Devils will likely be sellers on Wednesday. The team is currently eight points out of the final playoff spot with six teams ahead of them. The playoffs are nearly impossible.

Henrique could bring a very nice package back, but it is very likely nobody from said package would have near the impact he has on this team. There are times when the deal looks great, but the return is not worth the price.