New Jersey Devils: Three Trade Packages For Adam Henrique
Adam Henrique has put together a pretty nice career so far split between the New Jersey Devils and Anaheim Ducks. He made his way over to the Ducks when the Devils traded him for Sami Vatanen. It was a trade that gave each team what they needed in the present but hasn’t been that big of help in the long term. The Ducks made Henrique a healthy scratch after a tough game against the St. Louis Blues last week, which has some Devils fans wondering if Henrique could come back home.
It might be time for the New Jersey Devils to bring Adam Henrique home to his original team.
The Devils don’t really need centers right now, especially when Nico Hischier and Travis Zajac come back. If they did acquire Henrique, he would probably play center in this non-healthy lineup but when the group is there at full strength, he would be a great winger for them in their middle-six. He can drive play at times, but he can also be a winger whose objective is to score goals. He hasn’t gotten off to a great start with just one goal and one assist in nine games, but he certainly might be sparked by coming to New Jersey.
This would also be a brilliant move for New Jersey in terms of PR. Adam Henrique is one of the most beloved players in the history of the team. He scored one of the biggest goals they have ever scored when he tucked a puck past Henrik Lundqvist to send New Jersey past the New York Rangers into the 2012 Stanley Cup Final.
There are so many great moments with Henrique and he could really use some of these experiences to help this modern-day Devils team. If the Devils really wanted to add him back, these three trades might get it done:
The New Jersey Devils would be getting a player with 3.5 years left on his contract but he is 30 years old and struggling. It probably wouldn’t cost that much for the Ducks to unload him at this point, especially if they are scratching him. They’d have to take on a large portion of that contract to get any deal done. Mikhail Maltsev is a good young prospect that would fit right in with what Anaheim is trying to accomplish right now.
They have a lot of good young talent coming and could see a major overhaul to their lineup. Maltsev is currently with New Jersey because of all the injuries and COVID-19 problems they have had to other players so he is gaining some valuable experience. That could really help the Ducks in building a young roster going forward, especially since he has a lot of puck skills to work with.
The 3rd-round pick that New Jersey is sending here is one that used to belong to the Arizona Coyotes. With the way they are playing so far this season, it could be a 3rd-round pick that is somewhat high in the round. Some Devils fans might not want to see Maltsev get moved but bringing back Henrique might be worth it as they are trying to take the next step as an organization.
The New Jersey Devils could really use someone like Adam Henrique on the wing. The fact that he can play both wing and center is something that could make him so useful to this squad. Playing on a team that has fans that adore him so much might also help him with his confidence which could, in turn, help him score more. He was a driving offensive force for Anaheim in 2019-20 as he had 26 goals and 17 assists for 43 points during the pandemic shortened season.
If the Ducks sent Adam Henrique over to New Jersey for Will Butcher, that could really help them out as well. Butcher hasn’t played a single game for New Jersey yet this season and you have to wonder why. He is a decent offensive defenseman that can’t defend. There are some good defensive defensemen on the New Jersey Devils to pair up with him but they just aren’t having it right now. It is going to become even harder for him when Sami Vatanen is back in the mix.
If Butcher went to Anaheim, it is almost certain that he would play. They are not very good at all and they could give him a look if they feel the need to add an offensive defenseman. He could run a power play if given the opportunity so a change of scenery could go a long way for him. This seems to be a trade that is best suited as a “one for one” based on the nature of their seasons so far.
This is something that would help offset the salaries. The Devils are paying Butcher $3.73 million AAV. In total dollars, he’s going to make $4.1 million next season. Henrique’s salary of $5.825 million is hefty, but losing Butcher’s salary will help in the short term.
Chances are that Nick Merkley will never be as good or accomplished as Adam Henrique. There also isn’t much room for him on the squad beyond the three years that Henrique has left on his contract after 2021. He would have much more of an opportunity on the Anaheim Ducks where their rebuild is still more in its infancy. The Devils may not be much more advanced than them but Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier outweigh Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale.
Merkley is an energy guy that might be able to fit on a future Anaheim fourth line. New Jersey likes what it is building with its current fourth line so shipping off Merkley for Henrique could pay off. There are plenty of studs like Alexander Holtz, Dawson Mercer, and Nolan Foote coming to be a part of New Jersey’s middle six so Henrique could be the perfect placeholder.
The 2021 seventh-round pick that New Jersey gives up here also belonged to Arizona Coyotes. It isn’t much but you never know what you can find in the later rounds of the NHL Draft. This is a “future-trade” for the Anaheim Ducks. They would be getting rid of Adam Henrique’s big cap hit over the next three years after this one and they would be adding a prospect that could help them in the long run.
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It might be a dream for New Jersey to add back Adam Henrique just because of how much we loved his time with them. He was a fantastic player on and off the ice. It wouldn’t be that expensive of a deal so if they can find the right one it would be cool to see. If Anaheim ends up scratching him more than playing him as they move along, it is certainly something to look into.