![Ducks center Adam Henrique, right, shoots the puck as New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 1, 2024, in Anaheim. Henrique was traded to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Ducks center Adam Henrique, right, shoots the puck as New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 1, 2024, in Anaheim. Henrique was traded to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AP24062219164530_c02913.jpg?w=525)
The Ducks traded forwards Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday in exchange for a 2024 first-round draft selection, the team confirmed.
Additionally, the Ducks retained 50% of Henrique’s remaining salary and included a seventh-round pick. They received a conditional fifth-round selection from Edmonton, which will become a fourth-rounder if the Oilers win the Stanley Cup.
In order to facilitate the deal, Edmonton sought out the Tampa Bay Lightning as a third party. Tampa retained 25% of Henrique’s salary and sent prospect goalie Ty Taylor to Edmonton in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick.
Henrique, 34, had been with the Ducks since 2017 when they acquired him from the New Jersey Devils in a deal involving defenseman Sami Vatanen. He accumulated 264 points in 435 games with the Ducks, including 42 this season, 23 of which have come in his past 23 games. Henrique can play center or wing and fulfill roles in both areas of special teams, giving the Oilers production and versatility in one package.
Carrick, 32, finally stuck as an NHL regular with the Ducks, beginning two seasons ago, and has been a heart-and-soul player for the club as a competitive, physical forward. Losing players like Nick Bjugdstad, Klim Kostin and Kailer Yamamoto from last year’s playoff run left the Oilers in search of some bottom-six depth, which they get in Carrick and Henrique, though Henrique also has potential to move up, as shown by his recent stints on the Ducks’ top line.“We wish the best of luck to Adam and Sam down the stretch and into the playoff race,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. “Both are quality individuals and character players that spent more than seven years with us, and they will serve the Oilers well. For us, this was a situation driven by contract status, and it was our desire to add another high draft pick to our core going forward.”
The Ducks now own two picks in each of the first two rounds in the upcoming draft: their own selections in Rounds 1 and 2, as well as Edmonton’s first-round pick and Boston’s second-rounder.
In corresponding roster moves, the Ducks recalled forwards Pavol Regenda and Glenn Gawdin from their top minor-league affiliate.