The 34-year-old center had 24 goals with Anaheim and Edmonton this season
The Buffalo Sabres face a season where accountability will be stressed under head coach Lindy Ruff and areas of need will have to be addressed by GM Kevyn Adams for the club to snap their 13-year playoff drought. We have been taking a look at players who could be potential trade targets this summer over the last few weeks in advance of a year that has to be considered playoffs or bust, but now we will take a look at who the Sabres could potentially be pursuing when the free agent market opens up on July 1.
Buffalo is not likely to pursue big-ticket players like Jake Guentzel or Elias Lindholm, as they will be pursuing long-term big-money contracts, but they will be looking for role players with size and two-way ability that can be signed for a lesser term and cap hit.
Adam Henrique – Center/Left Wing (Edmonton Oilers)
Stats:51 points (24 G, 27 A) in 82 games, 7 points in 16 playoff games
2023-24 Salary - $5.825 million
One of the most pressing needs for the Sabres is to find a short-term replacement up the middle for Casey Mittelstadt, while youngsters like Noah Ostlund and Matthew Savoie gain experience in the American Hockey League. Head coach Lindy Ruff likely will want some experience to play on the third line behind Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens, and Henrique coming off a deep playoff run with Edmonton could be a good fit.
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Henrique was a 2008 draft pick (82nd overall) of the New Jersey Devils, who made the NHL at 21 years old and scored 51 points as a rookie in a season where the Devils made it to the Stanley Cup Final. The Brantford, ON native spent more than six seasons in New Jersey before he was dealt to Anaheim in 2017.
He signed a six-year deal with the Ducks in 2018 and scored more than 20 goals three times before being traded at the deadline to Edmonton for a first-round pick. The 34-year-old has been an effective depth forward in the Oilers run to the Cup Final (4 goals, 3 assists in 16 games) and could be a good fit as an experienced center behind Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens on a short-term deal.
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