Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: How Much Is Adam Henrique Worth?

After reconsidering this, the sample size for Henrique really makes it hard to put a gauge on how good of a player he is. He played between Kovalchuk and Parise, which he did wonderfully in his rookie year, and then his playoff heroics. He took a step back in a 48 game year. That's all we know about him.

I think the hold up is on the term. Lou probably wants to give him a short "prove it" deal and Henrique is probably looking to get a Josh Bailey type of deal, only at bit higher price tag.

I would almost guarantee that the reason he hasnt signed yet is because they are trying to put him in a deal with Buffalo for Vanek.

I would almost guarantee that the reason he hasnt signed yet is because they are trying to put him in a deal with Buffalo for Vanek.
- Kovaltron

This is one of the dumbest comments I've ever heard. Move a young, promising player whom the Devils control for the next several years, for a player whose cap hit is bigger than Kovy's was despite not having nearly as much talent or game breaking ability. This would be the most anti-Lou trade to make.

If there is one thing Lou seems to value it is the young players he can control through arbitration. Do they leave after that? Sometimes. But he follows the process and saves every nickel and dime along the way.

Also, in regards to Henrique, I'd agree he needs a "prove it" contract. Once Kovy and Parise left his wings he wasn't exactly a star player. I could see this being a 2 year deal which, if he proves he can post 40-50 pts, Lou locks him up with something longer.

This is one of the dumbest comments I've ever heard. Move a young, promising player whom the Devils control for the next several years, for a player whose cap hit is bigger than Kovy's was despite not having nearly as much talent or game breaking ability. This would be the most anti-Lou trade to make.

If there is one thing Lou seems to value it is the young players he can control through arbitration. Do they leave after that? Sometimes. But he follows the process and saves every nickel and dime along the way.

Also, in regards to Henrique, I'd agree he needs a "prove it" contract. Once Kovy and Parise left his wings he wasn't exactly a star player. I could see this being a 2 year deal which, if he proves he can post 40-50 pts, Lou locks him up with something longer.
- jersey1414

People need to get over the fact that he scored 2 big goals in the playoffs. In the regular season he has been average at best.

I would almost guarantee that the reason he hasnt signed yet is because they are trying to put him in a deal with Buffalo for Vanek.
- Kovaltron

That would be a terrible idea. You build a team through your system not by collecting talent through free agency and blockbuster trades. Not to mention Vanek is a rental player. Henrique is a part of this organization going forward.

What about Carl Hagelin as a comparable?

112 GP
24 Goals
62 Points
2.25M cap hit for the next to years.

What about Carl Hagelin as a comparable?

112 GP
24 Goals
62 Points
2.25M cap hit for the next to years.
- tsipka

Not sure how he didn't come up in the search.

I would almost guarantee that the reason he hasnt signed yet is because they are trying to put him in a deal with Buffalo for Vanek.
- Kovaltron

Vanek is a nice player but I don't see it.

Not sure how he didn't come up in the search.
- Todd.Cordell

In Lou We Trust actually did something similar before free agency
http://www.inlouwetrust.c...larly-productive-forwards

In Lou We Trust actually did something similar before free agency
http://www.inlouwetrust.c...larly-productive-forwards
- tsipka

Never saw it. Only Devils stuff I read is TG's and occasionally Chere's.

That would be a terrible idea. You build a team through your system not by collecting talent through free agency and blockbuster trades. Not to mention Vanek is a rental player. Henrique is a part of this organization going forward.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Not every piece can be obtained organically. I would definitely take a Henrique trade where the devils end up with a 30-40 goal scrorer. Of course all of this is contingent on a new deal for Vanek being factored in. His salary aint bad this year at 6.4 mil either.
What's Henrique max potential? 20 goals? 25? He made a name for himself playing with world class talent. So long as he didn't get in the way of Parise/Kovalchuk he would have been fine.

It be nice if he signed today.

Furthermore, where did I say I agreed with the possibility of trading for Vanek? But if it was Henrique, Urbom, and a pick or something I would do it only if I knew Vanek would resign. The cap hit is high but its only this year. He is a UFA after this season.

Furthermore, where did I say I agreed with the possibility of trading for Vanek? But if it was Henrique, Urbom, and a pick or something I would do it only if I knew Vanek would resign. The cap hit is high but its only this year. He is a UFA after this season.
- Kovaltron

Henrique will provide stability at centre and +/- 20 goals 25 assists for the next 12 years, while Vanek will provide 30 goals for what... 4 years? NJ will stick to Henrique.

What about Carl Hagelin as a comparable?

112 GP
24 Goals
62 Points
2.25M cap hit for the next to years.
- tsipka

I would take Henrique over Hagelin 10 times out of ten. 3 years 3.5 million

Furthermore, where did I say I agreed with the possibility of trading for Vanek? But if it was Henrique, Urbom, and a pick or something I would do it only if I knew Vanek would resign. The cap hit is high but its only this year. He is a UFA after this season.
- Kovaltron

That's not how it works, this isn't the NBA where you can do a sign-and-trade. If you trade for him now, you are taking that gamble of him walking at the end of the year. That's why no one else is interested in him, you'd think a 40 goal scorer who's been dangled for months now would've drawn some proposals? Most teams are waiting til the deadline to pick him up as a rental at a low price because there is no way for him to guarentee to a team he'd resign.

That's not how it works, this isn't the NBA where you can do a sign-and-trade. If you trade for him now, you are taking that gamble of him walking at the end of the year. That's why no one else is interested in him, you'd think a 40 goal scorer who's been dangled for months now would've drawn some proposals? Most teams are waiting til the deadline to pick him up as a rental at a low price because there is no way for him to guarentee to a team he'd resign.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Thanks for the lesson. I would never have known....

Thanks for the lesson. I would never have known....
- Kovaltron

The more you know.

Adam Henrique has the potential to be the face of the New Jersey Devils franchise going forward.

Their is no sense in trading him for Thomas Vanek, who probably has no interest in playing for the Devils.

Once Vanek hit's free agency he's more than likely going to jump ship from whatever team he's on and ho to the Minnesota Wild to play with Jason Pominville... making him a rental player at best.

If the Devils can muster up a prospect package without Henrique involved than in order to acquire Vanek than i'm all for it.

Adam must stay!

Henrique will provide stability at centre and +/- 20 goals 25 assists for the next 12 years, while Vanek will provide 30 goals for what... 4 years? NJ will stick to Henrique.
- Not_Yan

Its sad when people from opposing fan bases are the voice of reason on our own blog. Next, the "Larsson's a bust" crowd will come out to round out the day of stupidity.

Hagelin's salary for this year is 2.1M and 2.4M for next year. Henrique should be similar to that if he chooses to resign for 2 years. Maybe 2.3M and 2.7M with a cap hit of 2.5M

Its sad when people from opposing fan bases are the voice of reason on our own blog. Next, the "Larsson's a bust" crowd will come out to round out the day of stupidity.
- TheJerseyDevil1

I can make general statements too. Mattias Tedenby will be a top line winger for the next 12 years. Jacob Josefson will be our top line center for the next 12 years. Nothing has shown either of those to be true, nor has Henrique even come close to prove he can be a consistent 20-25 goal scorer.

If the rumors are true i see Lou Lamoriello at the biggest cross road of his career. Does he cater to the future of the New Jersey Devils and lock up Adam Henrique... or does he pull the trigger and deal Henrique for Vanek, giving Marty Brodeur more of a chance to lock up a cup in his final year?

Henrique will provide stability at centre and +/- 20 goals 25 assists for the next 12 years, while Vanek will provide 30 goals for what... 4 years? NJ will stick to Henrique.
- Not_Yan

Henrique can be a UFA in as early as 4 years.