Oilers acquire Henrique, Carrick from Ducks in 3-team trade

Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick were acquired by the Edmonton Oilers from the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday in a three-team trade also involving the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Anaheim received a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from Edmonton and retained 50 percent of Henrique's contract, and 50 percent of Carrick's contract. Tampa Bay received a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from Edmonton and retained 25 percent of Henrique's contract. If the Oilers do not win the Stanley Cup, Tampa Bay's pick will be in the fourth round of the 2025 draft.

"We have some versatility, we have some depth, both guys kill penalties, both guys can play center, so I felt we got deeper," Oilers general manager Ken Holland said. "The importance of penalty killing come playoff time, the importance of centers come playoff time, the importance of depth come playoff time, were all factors in the decision to make the deal."

Henrique has 42 points (18 goals, 24 assists) in 60 games this season. The 34-year-old forward is in the final season of a five-year contract he signed with the Ducks on July 16, 2018, and can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Selected by the New Jersey Devils in the third round (No. 82) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Henrique has 521 points (257 goals, 264 assists) in 890 regular-season games for the Ducks and Devils and 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 28 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"We're trying to win now, we're trying to get deeper," Holland said. "I think the time is now that's why we're doing these things. It's an opportunity, both guys are unrestricted free agents, it's an opportunity to get to know them, watch them and as we get into the off season, make a decision whether they like Edmonton and how it's working out for them and vice versa if they fit us going forward."

Carrick has 11 points (eight goals, three assists) in 61 games this season. The 32-year-old forward is in the final season of a two-year contract he signed April 26, 2022, and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round (No. 144) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Carrick has 48 points (26 goals, 22 assists) in 224 regular-season games for the Ducks and Maple Leafs.

"I haven't exactly talked to [coach Kris Knoblauch] where he thinks they're going to fit," Holland said. "They're both flying in tonight, they'll both be at practice [Thursday] morning and I'll talk to Kris here tonight, but I'm looking forward just as you are to see what he's looking forward for line combinations. I haven't really had a chance to talk to him about that.

Edmonton also received a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft, and goalie prospect Ty Taylor from the Lightning. The 24-year-old, who was a seventh-round selection (No. 214) in the 2018 NHL Draft, has yet to make his NHL debut.

The Oilers (38-20-2), who have won five straight games, are second in the Pacific Division, nine points behind the Vancouver Canucks.

"I think this time of the year, teams are making the moves that they're making because we're all planning that we'd to be playing into June," Holland said. "And if you're going to be playing into May and June, you need depth, you're probably going to have some injuries and you need people to step in, so having seven center icemen obviously gives us good depth down the middle."

The Ducks (23-36-3) are seventh in the Pacific, 24 points behind the Nashville Predators, who hold the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference.

NHL.com staff writer Derek Van Diest contributed to this report