Following the Edmonton Oilers' devastating 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in game seven of the Stanley Cup Final, Adam Henrique had a lot to think about. Speaking to the media two days later, he said: "There’s a price for winning. Being on a team like Edmonton that’s so close, and year after year now, the Stanley Cup is the goal. For me coming in, it renews the passion in the game a bit."
Henrique then expanded on his mindset, and the personal sacrifice he was prepared to make. He said: "We've got to get home and have some discussion with everyone (in the family) and go from there, but certainly I don't think money is the number one thing for me at this point in my career and where I'm at."
A team-friendly deal for the Oilers
The 34-year-old then went on to put his money where his mouth was (or should that be the opposite?), by accepting a $3 million x two-year deal at the beginning of free agency, to re-sign with the Oilers. For some context, consider that the previous five-year deal he had agreed with the Anaheim Ducks in 2018, had an Average Annual Value (AAV) of $5.824 million.
Interestingly, AFP Analytics had projected Henrique would get a AAV of just under $4.305 million on his next contract. Accurate or not, this also still alludes to what he was valued at and worth.
Yes, the Oilers were in such a tight financial position salary cap-wise, that the Brantford, Ontario native almost had to accept less money if he was to return to the Oilers. However, that he actually did, still speaks volumes about his integrity.
Henrique isn't just all talk
Now, more information has come to light, which further helps paint Henrique in a positive light when it comes to money no longer being his number one priority. And it relates to leaving money on the table from other teams.
More specifically, as per Jim Parsons of NHL Trade Talk, the forward reportedly turned down a two-year offer from the Winnipeg Jets, which had a AAV of $3.5 million. While this might now seem like too much of a difference, we're still talking about an extra $1 million overall for a player likely coming towards the end of his NHL career.
For this, the 2008 third round draft pick should be commended. It also reinforces how highly he rates the Oilers and their chances of returning to the Stanley Cup Final in one of these next two seasons.
It's not as if the Jets are a bad team either, after coming off a campaign where they had more points than the Oilers during the regular season. In addition, they have a goalie in Connor Hellebuyck, who just won the second Vezina Trophy of his career.
As much as Henrique's statistical productivity took a downward turn after his trade to the Oilers, he stepped up his game come playoff time and played a crucial role in their run to the Stanley Cup Final. And for what it's worth, for the regular season as a whole he equalled a career high of 51 points and set a new personal best with a +8 rating.
The former New Jersey Devil has enjoyed a successful 15-year career in the NHL, but one thing thing continues to elude him. He clearly believes sticking with the Oilers gives him his best shot of finally winning a Stanley Cup, even if it means earning less money than he's offered elsewhere and for that, Oilers fans have yet another reason to root for him.