The Edmonton Oilers are now down 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Final and three former Ducks that they brought in this season haven't fared as well as they might hoped.
When the Edmonton Oilers brought Corey Perry, Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick into the fold, the hope was that the trio of former Anaheim Ducks would help add some much-needed depth to their forward corps.
The early returns were promising. Perry collected his first point as an Oiler in his second return to Honda Center against his former team, helping create the goal in typical Perry fashion by being a nuisance to goaltender John Gibson. This kickstarted a span of five points in the next seven games for Perry. He would finish the season with 13 points in 38 games, with his underlying numbers also proving to be fine.
But the Oilers didn't sign Perry for the regular season. His contributions carry more of an impact once they've advanced to the postseason. Perry's 15 seasons of Stanley Cup Playoffs experience––with three of the last four appearances before this one taking him to the Stanley Cup Final––are what the Oilers value most about the wily veteran.
He's no longer the caliber of player who scored 50 goals and won the Hart Trophy in 2010-11, but he's still just as crafty. His IQ serves him better with his legs now not quite as quick at age 39. However, it's been tough sledding for Perry since the playoffs rolled around.
He did not record a single point in the Oilers' first round matchup against the Los Angeles Kings, nor did he in the second round against the Vancouver Canucks. He was even scratched for the final two games of that series, which went the full distance of seven games.
It wasn't until he was re-inserted into the lineup in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against his old team, the Dallas Stars, that Perry recorded his first point of the playoffs.
The last three games have been especially rough for Perry, with the Oilers being out-chanced in all three games when Perry was on the ice. He was a healthy scratch for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, replaced by former teammate Sam Carrick.
Carrick made a quick impression upon his acquisition (along with Henrique) by the Oilers at the trade deadline, dropping the gloves with Mathieu Olivier of the Columbus Blue Jackets in his first game with his new team.
Though not a regular point-getter, Carrick managed five points in the 16 regular games he suited up in for Edmonton. His playoff appearances have been sporadic though, playing in three out of five games in the first round and just two in the second round against Vancouver. He did play in four games during the Western Conference Final but was a healthy scratch for Games 4 and 6.
After being scratched for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, Carrick drew in for Perry, looking to add an element of grit and sandpaper to the Oilers' bottom-6. He ended up with the third-lowest time on ice among Oilers skaters. The two players having less time on ice being one who received a game misconduct in the first period and the other suffering an injury in the first period.
That's not indicative of poor play from Carrick either. With head coach Kris Knoblauch searching for offense from his team, someone like Carrick just won't be at the top of that list.
There were 4,333 days between Adam Henrique's last two playoff goals when he scored on April 22, 2024, against the Kings. His last one before that? April 18, 2017, against the San Jose Sharks as a member of the Ducks. To say it took a while for Henrique to get back to the postseason would be an understatement.
Unfortunately, Henrique's goal in his first playoff game in seven years was not a sign of things to come. He suffered a lower-body injury during that series against the Kings and missed all but one game of their series against the Canucks. Though he did score in his return to the lineup against the Stars in Game 3, a goal that tied the game at three apiece at the time.
A versatile player, it has been difficult for Henrique to find his footing throughout this playoff run. He's been primarily deployed as a bottom-6 forward, though he was elevated to the second line for Game 2 of the Cup Final. He also had a good scoring opportunity in Game 1, with his breakaway attempt being foiled by Sergei Bobrovsky.
The Oilers will need a lot more from players like these three former Ducks if they hope to return home and erase a two-game deficit created by the Panthers.