New Jersey Devils: Adam Henrique Trade Proves Hockey Is A Business

The New Jersey Devils traded a fan favorite to fix their biggest flaw. While many fans will be sad to lose Adam Henrique, this was the right move. However, it’s a move that proves hockey is just a business.

You hear the saying “sports is just a business” all the time. You hear it when Eli Manning gets benched after 13 years as the New York Giants starter. It’s said when Joe Girardi gets let go after bringing his team to the ALCS. When Phil Jackson chooses a terrible draft pick over a legit player, it was all in the interest of business.

The New Jersey Devils made a major business transaction on Thursday morning. General Manager Ray Shero traded Adam Henrique, Joseph Blandisi and a third-round pick for Sami Vatanen and a conditional third.

Henrique was the consummate fan favorite. He literally just held Rico’s Soiree on Tuesday. Henrique met with 200 of the Devils biggest fans, alongside many of his teammates, in order to raise money for his Movember campaign. One fan even spent $5,000 just to shave off Henrique’s mustache. Now, his cleanly-shaven face is heading to Anaheim.

Henrique’s Movember campaign may have been the most successful in the NHL. He raised over $60,000 for the charity according to NHL.com. He’s the reason why the Devils ranked first in the NHL’s Movember rankings.

Henrique was the last Devils player with real ties to the 2012 Stanley Cup run. His “Henrique it’s over” play against the New York Rangers will live in team history. It still may be the most important goal in team history, even more memorable than Jason Arnott’s goal that won the Devils their second Stanley Cup.

It seems like more people considered Henrique their favorite player than anyone on the team. He proved why just a week ago, when he responded by being dropped in the lineup by playing with extreme grit against the Minnesota Wild. He scored a goal and registered two assists while being in every single play all night.

Here’s the thing, while the Devils lose Henrique they win this trade. That is nearly undeniable. The Devils give up what’s become a third-line player, an AHL player and a 3rd-round draft pick for a legit top-line defenseman. When you put it in business terms, that’s what you get. Henrique has been the most professional player on this Devils team. He never spoke out of term or threw anyone under the bus. When he was struggling, he made it a point to work on a turnaround. However, this move makes the team better. It is hard losing Henrique, but the return is amazing.

We will all miss Henrique. Make sure to make it out to Prudential Center on December 18th to give Henrique the ovation he deserves. Blow the roof off the Rock to show how much this fanbase appreciates what he did to this franchise.

And finally, for old times sake:

Next: New Jersey Devils Acquire Sami Vatanen for Adam Henrique