Adam Henrique, Sam Carrick expected to make Edmonton Oilers debuts Thursday in Columbus

The two newest members of the Edmonton Oilers are expected to suit up with the team for the first time against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday evening.

Oilersnation‘s Jason Gregor reported Wednesday afternoon that both Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick are expected to participate in the team’s morning skate in Columbus on Thursday.

After that, the two newly acquired forwards are both expected to hit the ice for Edmonton’s game against the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus at 5:00 p.m. MT.

The two former Anaheim Ducks should bolster an Oilers team that is coming off an entertaining 2–1 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Tuesday night. The Oilers are currently in second place in the Pacific Division with a 38-20-2 record and 78 points in 60 games this season.

The Oilers pulled off an enormous three-way deal with the Ducks and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, sending their own 2024 first-round pick and a conditional 2025 fifth-round pick to Anaheim for the two pending UFA forwards.

The Ducks retained 50 percent on both Henrique and Carrick for the rest of the season. Tampa Bay retained an additional 25 percent of Henrique, leaving the Oilers accountable for the final quarter of the 34-year-old’s remaining cap hit for this year.

The Oilers also paid the Lightning a fourth-round pick to retain 25 percent of Henrique’s salary. In return, the Oilers received a future seventh-round pick and the rights to unsigned goaltender prospect Ty Taylor.

Henrique is the obvious centrepiece in this deal. The veteran centre has 18 goals and 42 points in 60 games with the Ducks this season. Through 890 career games with the Ducks and the New Jersey Devils, Henrique has collected 257 goals and 521 points.

Carrick is more of a depth piece for this Oilers team, someone who will likely battle with Sam Gagner for ice time down the stretch. The 32-year-old forward has eight goals and 11 points in 61 games with the Ducks this season; in 224 career games with the Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs, Carrick has 26 goals and 48 points.