The Edmonton Oilers are gearing up for a boost in their lineup as veteran center Adam Henrique is set to make his return when they face off against Anaheim on Wednesday. Head coach Kris Knoblauch shared the positive update, noting that Henrique is “doing really well” after being sidelined for over six weeks due to an undisclosed injury. His return is timely, though there's a hiccup with winger Kasperi Kapanen potentially missing the start of their three-game California road trip due to a new ailment.
Henrique's absence has been felt, especially as he struggled in the first half of the season with just two goals and eight assists over 43 games. Despite these numbers, Henrique has been a force in the faceoff circle, winning nearly 55% of his draws, and has been a key player on the penalty kill. His presence will undoubtedly strengthen these areas for the Oilers.
On the flip side, Kapanen's season has been marred by injuries. After a significant lower-body injury kept him out for over two months, he returned only to face another setback soon after.
This latest issue isn't connected to his previous injuries, but it's another hurdle for the 29-year-old. Despite the challenges, Kapanen has been a valuable contributor, scoring five goals and adding seven assists in just 19 games, providing much-needed secondary scoring for Edmonton.
With the recent demotion of Matthew Savoie, the Oilers are operating with a lean roster of 20 players. Activating Henrique won't pose a roster issue, but it will leave them with only 12 forwards, including the sidelined Kapanen.
This situation might force the team to either dress seven defensemen or call up an additional forward before Wednesday’s game. The Oilers will need to strategize carefully to navigate these lineup adjustments as they continue their road trip.