This was a declaration from Devils general manager Ray Shero saying that he is not content to just ease his way through a rebuild. Instead, Shero is being proactive about improving his team, which has surprised by being near the top of the Metropolitan Division standings since the season started.
So Shero traded away a core piece in forward Adam Henrique, along with stalled prospect Joe Blandisi and their 2018 third-round pick, to the Ducks in exchange for top-four defenseman Sami Vatanen and a conditional third-round pick in 2019 or 2020. Henrique, 27, is signed through 2018-19 at $4 million per season, and if Anaheim doesn’t resign him, then the Devils don’t get a pick back. Vatanen, 26, is signed through 2019-20 and carries an annual $4.875 million salary-cap hit.
And as difficult as it will be for them to lose Henrique, a leader on and off the ice, they certainly got a much-needed upgrade on the blueline.
“In acquiring Sami, we bring on a right shot, top-four defenseman who can play in all situations,” Shero said in a statement. “This move also gives us contract certainty on the back end for the next two-plus years. When acquiring a defenseman like Vatanen, you have to give back quality assets or players in return.”
Henrique might be most remembered for his overtime game-winner in Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference final against the Rangers, sending the Blueshirts home and the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final, where they would lose to the Kings. His career never seemed to take off like most anticipated, in lockstep with the team missing the playoffs for the previous five years. Henrique’s best statistical season came when he put up 30 goals and 50 points in 2015-16.
Vatanen is a good skater and puck-mover, which the Devils need. He can be used on the power play, but with one goal and three assists in 15 games this season, he isn’t exactly an offensive powerhouse. He did have 12 goals in 2014-15, and back-to-back seasons with at least 37 points before a dip in production last year.
He is expected to join the team in Denver, where it plays Friday against the Avalanche.