Ducks place Adam Henrique on waivers

This morning, the Anaheim Ducks placed veteran center Adam Henrique on waivers. The 31-year-old center has just three goals and one assist through 16 games this season, with 22 shots on goal.

Henrique was acquired by the Ducks early in the 2017-18 season, along with forward prospect Joseph Blandisi and a third-round pick in 2018, in exchange for defender Sami Vatanen and a conditional pick that became a 2019 third-round pick (used to draft Daniil Misyul). In 2018, Henrique signed a five-year extension with the club worth more than $29 million, including a modified no-trade clause that requires Henrique to submit a 10-team no-trade list.

In 226 games with the Ducks, Henrique has totaled 67 goals, 58 assists and 64 penalty minutes. During the 2019-20 season, he led the team in goals (26) and points (43), coming in second in shots on goal (169).

The introduction of the taxi squad this season has seen several players go through waivers who might not otherwise, due to the process required to be placed on a team’s taxi squad being the same as re-assignment to the AHL.

Currently, only four teams would be able to absorb Henrique’s $5.825 million contract: the Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings and, of course, the New Jersey Devils. The New York Rangers could also make the money work with a re-assignment of another player, coming in about $410,000 short of cap space as of today.