New Jersey Devils: Adam Henrique Needs To Turn It Around
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils came out with another loss in a rough November. One of the players really underperforming is Adam Henrique.
In nine games to start November, the New Jersey Devils went 3-3-3. This, after a blazing hot start that surprised the league. The latest loss against the Winnipeg Jets showed a lot of the Devils flaws, all in the second period. There are a lot of things the Devils need to fix, the defense especially, but a few of the veterans really need to step up. Adam Henrique tops that list.
Henrique is a player who came into this season with something to prove. So far, he isn’t proving anything, at least nothing positive. He was already playing a new position, especially with the return of Travis Zajac.
Henrique has been especially bad this month. He has one points and zero goals. A player that was once one of the bigger scoring threats on the team, now can’t even buy a goal. It’s not like he’s been close either. He has 13 shots on goal in nine games this month. When Henrique sees Nico Hischier going through goal struggles, while taking seven shots in the last game, there has to be some envy in there. Henrique took one shot after he was dropped to the third line.
Henrique was scoring in all phases in October. During the Devils best run, he had four power play points, two shorthanded points and two points while 5-on-5. He was playing well offensively no matter what was happening.
This month, he hasn’t been able to score in any phase of the game.
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The Devils really need Henrique right now. The offense hasn’t been clicking like it was before. While the Devils were getting goals from all four lines, now the team is relying too much on a few players to lead them. While Henrique should be one of the leaders when the team is down, he falls further down his own rut.
Head coach John Hynes shows he isn’t afraid to sit any player at any time. Pavel Zacha, who was once the most promising player on the Devils roster, hasn’t played for the past two games. Neither has Jimmy Hayes. If Henrique wants to stay in the lineup, he needs to step it up. It could be even worse. The Devils could decide to package Henrique in a trade to acquire a defenseman. Anything is possible with this Devils team, after showing they have the potential to make a playoff run.