Henrique, 34, rose to the top of the trade market’s center rankings after the deals for Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan earlier in the year. He was ranked fifth in Daily Faceoff Insider Frank Seravalli’s most recent Trade Targets article. Carrick, 32, ranked sixth among available centers and 29th overall on that ranking.
The Oilers add more center alternatives on their roster, which was already abundant, with this move. The team’s top six center group is already set with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins; however, beyond Ryan McLeod, Mattias Janmark, Derek Ryan, and Dylan Holloway in their bottom six, Henrique and Carrick provide more alternatives. Additionally, it allows them to choose which of those centers to place on the
With 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points in 60 games, Henrique is enjoying one of his greatest seasons to date. If he continues to play at that rate for the remainder of the season, he will have 57 points, significantly surpassing the 51 points he previously set in his rookie year with the New Jersey Devils in 2011–12. However, he scored at this rate in a far larger role than he will probably play in Edmonton, so moving ahead, his pace might slow down a little.
Carrick has also been playing better than he has historically, if not quite to Henrique’s level—in 61 games, he has eight goals and three assists for 11 points.
