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Does Adam Henrique Have More To Give Offensively? |
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Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
When Adam Henrique broke into the NHL and recorded 51 points in his rookie campaign - while playing a pivotal role on a Devils team that made the Stanley Cup Final - many assumed New Jersey had an emerging star in their hands.
That hasn't proven to be the case, though, as his production has dipped since with No. 14 recording 43 points in both non lockout shortened seasons since that time.
A lot of people have since suggested he was a byproduct of playing on a line with two stars in Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise - which certainly helped - but as important to the dip in production is he simply hasn't had good linemates to work with.
Since Henrique's rookie year his most frequent linemate has been Michael Ryder. The veteran winger recorded just 54 points in 129 games (34 points per 82) as a Devil. That's less than half the production Kovalchuk and Parise could regularly be relied upon to contribute during their time with the Devils.
After Ryder the only players Henrique has spent more than 300 minutes with at full strength are Patrik Elias, Steve Bernier, Scott Gomez and Ryane Clowe(!).
Of the five guys he has spent the most time with since 2012 only one of them could be considered a top-6 forward and that's a 37, 38 and 39-year-old Elias.
Despite that Henrique has averaged more than 20 goals and 40 points per year (lockout shortened season excluded) playing on a team that has struggled mightily to score.
Some credit Kovalchuk and Parise for 'making' Henrique but you just as easily say guys like Ryder and Bernier have brought him down.
Obviously you can't expect to play with guys like Kovalchuk and Parise your entire career. At the same time is there no happy medium in-between those guys and bottom-6 forwards such as Ryder and Bernier?
Before knocking Henrique for his inability to take a step forward or considering him a one-year wonder you should probably look at who he's been asked to carry over the last few seasons.
He's never going to be near the top of the league in scoring but I think he has more to give offensively and we'll see that if and when he's given better linemates.
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