Aging legs and plummeting defensive metrics have left the veteran forward in limbo. Discover why Adam Henrique faces a looming professional tryout as teams prioritize younger, cheaper alternatives.
Not that long ago I looked at unrestricted free agent goaltender and former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram wasn't signed yet. My thought was that teams might have understood he was a solid option as a backup, but his off-ice struggles have franchises slightly hesitant. This time around, I'm looking at another player who was a useful piece for the Oilers but remains unsigned: Adam Henrique.
As free agency drags deeper into the summer, Henrique's chances of landing a solid NHL job are dwindling. His numbers from his final season in Edmonton go a long way toward explaining why teams have been slow to come calling.
Now 36, Henrique appeared in 65 games last season, but the offensive production has all but dried up. He had just three goals and 15 points, and perhaps more concerning for potential suitors is the defensive slide: his five-on-five goal share dipped to a career-low 34.8 percent. A solid penalty killer, Edmonton's PK wasn't good last season. The Oilers also often got on the wrong side of things when he was on the ice. Whether that's on him or his linemates, if that's the metric NHL teams are looking at he's in contract offer trouble.
This is not to suggest there isn't a bounce-back season in him. In the right situation, and with the proper load of minutes, he could be useful. He's a solid lockerroom guy, good leader, and Henrique may still have something to offer a team looking for a reliable, typcially-defensively responsible forward who can eat up special team minutes.
Teams weighing whether to bring him are well aware that his declining offensive game and career-worst on-ice results could be the start of a real downward trend. Teams will be comparing his potential to that of younger, maybe cheaper options.
At this stage, it looks increasingly likely that Henrique's path back into the league — if there is one — could come through a professional tryout rather than a guaranteed contract. A PTO would let a team evaluate him in camp without financial risk, giving him a chance to prove last season was more a blip than a sign of things to come.
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