Adam Henrique has struggled since he joined the Edmonton Oilers midway through the 2023-24 season. He scored 12 goals last yr with the Oilers and that total is all the way down to two goals this season. Despite his lack of production, Henrique shouldn’t be inquisitive about leaving Edmonton and doesn’t need to get traded.
In response to NHL insider Darren Dreger, neither Henrique nor his agent are willing to waive the player’s no-trade contract at this point. While there are six days to go before the March 6 NHL trade deadline and it’s possible Henrique could change his mind in some unspecified time in the future, it’s quite clear without delay that he shouldn’t be inquisitive about leaving the Oilers.
Edmonton appears to have several areas of need if the Oilers are going to have a likelihood to make a run within the Stanley Cup playoffs again this season. The Oilers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals each of the last two seasons, however the team’s defensive weaknesses and lack of solid goaltending have put the team in a vulnerable position.
The Oilers are third within the Pacific Division, but their position may very well be in jeopardy with any form of a losing streak coupled with hot streaks by the Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks or Los Angeles Kings. Edmonton has 66 points after its 5-4 loss to the Sharks. They are only three points ahead of the Kraken prior to Seattle’s home game Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks.
The Oilers are expected to be energetic prior to the trade deadline where they’re expected to strengthen their blue line crew and maybe make a move on the goaltending position. They added Tristan Jarry in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier within the yr, but that has not worked out for the Oilers.