Confirmed with Link: Ducks acquire Henrique+ from Devils for Vatanen

[nbducksfan19]

Ideally, I would have liked to see Vats moved in a package for a top line forward - Drouin, Duchene, Galchenyuk, ect. I just don't think Vats has played well enough in the last year to justify being the centerpiece in a deal like that. It was time to make a deal, and if we couldn't get a Top Line player, I think the package we received was more that adequate. I think we are a better team after this move, as we traded from a position of strength.

The Ducks have done a phenomenal job of building a huge cupboard of quality defensmen. I was excited at the prospect of capitalizing on that and trading for some elite offense. Unfortunately, Despres injury and expansion draft limited our gains.

 

[Exit Dose]

Thank god it finally happened. Henrique was someone that I had hoped we would target, as there seemed to be a good fit with Jersey.

 

[BenedictGomez]

He's been very good for us until this season where he has struggled.

So the trade is a struggling defenseman for a struggling forward. My guess is it works out for both teams.

 

[duxfan1101]

Love Sami, won't miss his facial hair though.

 

[BenedictGomez]

is Blandisi any good?

I actually like him a lot. Problem is the Devils have so many young skilled forwards he couldnt crack the NHL.

He has some sick moves though, and he's pretty fast. I think he'll probably end up being solid in the gimmick too.

 

[Exit Dose]

He has some sick moves though, and he's pretty fast. I think he'll probably end up being solid in the gimmick too.

Skill and speed are definitely things we need more of in our system - outside of the defensive pipeline, obviously.

 

[Paul4587]

Henrique isn’t the perfect return but Vatanens value was trending downwards and something needed to be done to stop the bleeding up front. So credit to Murray for getting a 20 goal guy and a bottom 6 type for Vatanen.

If Vats bounces back this could bite us in the ass but I’m not overly worried about that. I am worried about a Beauchemin Bieksa third pairing though.

 

[Csonked Out]

You guys will love Henrique for half the season and hate him for half the season. He is very streaky as he is invisible when cold and dominant when hot. He is amazing in the locker room though and even designed Keith Kinkaids pads last year. Google "pads of seduction Keith kinkaid". Your welcome lol

 

[Dryish]

So, to bring us back on the surface of the earth, I'm taking bets. How long until Henrique gets injured?

 

[Spazkat]

He hasn't been himself offensively(could be from the injury)... In his own zone I'm guessing the teams injuries played a big part in that the forwards just havnt been good enough to keep the puck out of our own end. Mentally in Anaheim he was maybe trying to do too much to make up for the injuries and hurting his play in the process(this last part is more of a guess/observation)


I think hell be good for you guys, I think you guys have a good team going and hell likely be able to open up his game a bit. I don't think he was ever really a great fit with RC and that prob hurt him a bit too.

Agreed on Vats. All of the D have looked bad to some extent... trying to do too much because they have been getting sol little support from the forwards. In Vatanen's case I'd say this was exacerbated by coming back from injury, having to spend a lot of time playing his off side, and having to lug Bieksa around quite often. Also, RC's system sucks.

I'm hoping Henrique surprises me, but my general feeling is that we lost this trade in value.


This is made worse by the idea that with Vats gone I'm pretty sure that RC's go-to guy to pick up Sami's minutes is going to Beiksa. Especially with Monotur out... it could look *really* ugly for a while. (does this also mean that they're going to want to re-sign Bieksa now? because we dont really have any other RHD)

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

As other have said, I'm sorry to see Sami go. Can't argue with the return given how his game had been trending down. Hopefully his game fits in better with the Devils. It's hard for me to think it won't.

Best of luck to ya Sami!

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I will say I read a lot of good things about Henrique as a person, around the community and charity work and what not which is nice, always like those types of players that do more then just play hockey.

Good guy Adam Henrique reaches out to Devils fan after house fire

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

Per Stephens, Blandisi is reporting to the Ducks, with #39. Henrique gets #14.

Who was the last 39? Sykora? Surely I'm missing someone.

edit - duh. Beleskey.

 

[Ducksforcup]

Imagine they both go right onto the roster.

Like the trade...Vatman has been trending downward for a while, but I think a change of scenery will serve him well. This adds another 20 goal scorer to Anaheim and a nice young player to boot. I'll take it.

 

[Static]

Hope this means liambas is out of the lineup, he just isn't an NHL player as fun as his fights are.

 

[DucksFanDFW]

Per Stephens, Blandisi is reporting to the Ducks, with #39. Henrique gets #14.

Who was the last 39? Sykora? Surely I'm missing someone.

edit - duh. Beleskey.

Travis Green too, I think.

 

[mightyquack]

Great return for Vatanen who hasn't looked like getting back anywhere close to his old self anytime soon. And a nice ease of the worries of Vatanen losing too much more value.

Hopefully one more forward and some health and we're looking good.

 

[Emperoreddy]

As for Blandisi aka Blender or Nintenjoe 64. He definitely has offensive talent and a great motor. He reads the offensive ice well and has a decent shot.

His skating is a mess though. Was nicknamed Bambisi because he often looks like Bambi on ice with the way he falls down.

He isn’t very good defensively at all, and can be undisplicned as all hell. He takes way too many penalities. I think his “diving” rep is overstated and he has grown out of that so I wouldn’t worry too much there.

Overall he can still put it together to become something decent in the NHL but I wouldn’t hold out too much hope of that.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I will say I read a lot of good things about Henrique as a person, around the community and charity work and what not which is nice, always like those types of players that do more then just play hockey.

Good guy Adam Henrique reaches out to Devils fan after house fire

Rico is an amazing off ice character. One of the best easily.

 

[91Fedorov]

I saw an article where Henrique tweeted to the fans saying:

"Thank you New Jersey! I'll never forget you, I hope you'll never forget me. For now..... "It's Over"

Then had a bunch of fans saying see you soon, when you don't re-sign in ANA and come back to us as a UFA.

I hope this isn't the way this goes.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

I read that Henrique's faceoff win% is similar to Rakell, so maybe when everyone is healthy he'll move back to LW ?

 

[Emperoreddy]

I saw an article where Henrique tweeted to the fans saying:

"Thank you New Jersey! I'll never forget you, I hope you'll never forget me. For now..... "It's Over"

Then had a bunch of fans saying see you soon, when you don't re-sign in ANA and come back to us as a UFA.

I hope this isn't the way this goes.

It won’t. Shero straight up admitted part of the reason this happened because he wasn’t sure Rico would be resigned.

Marcus Johansson is up for a new contract the same year and Hall not soon after. We simply weren’t going to hand out big raises to all three especially with some of the kids coming off their ELCs.

Rico always looked like the odd man out since he was a hold over from the last regime and doesn’t quite fit with Shero’s vision of the team now.

You are just reading Devils fans having an emotional time with this breakup. He was very much beloved here for good reason. Overall great guy and scored an all time great goal in Devils history.

I wouldn’t be shocked if Rico wanted to come back here if it was an option as he loved it here (and so far is the only team he knows), but I don’t think the door will be open and I think he will adjust and like it out here with you guys soon enough.

 

[Paul4587]

Crazy to look at our defensive depth now compared to in June. Kinda wish we still had Theodore about now.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

Crazy to look at our defensive depth now compared to in June. Kinda wish we still had Theodore about now.

Yeah, in hindsight it's hard not to think we couldn't have done this deal pre ED, bought out Bieksa, and still had Theo to play or even trade for other help.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Glad Rico landed in a spot I can root for him. He will infuriate you at times, but he is the kind of guy you want on your team at crunch time.