TRADE ALERT: Henrique, Terry, McTavish, Dionicio & More
The Anaheim Ducks made a strong comeback after a heavy 9-2 defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs last Saturday, securing a 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday. Despite facing challenges throughout the season, the Ducks have shown a notable ability to bounce back after tough losses in the 2023-24 season. Progress towards competitiveness is evident, though the pace may feel slow. Nevertheless, the recent win is a positive sign of advancement for the team.
The victory over the Sabres highlighted the Ducks’ resilience, as both teams fought fiercely for the lead, exchanging ties three times before Troy Terry sealed the win for the Ducks at 18:56 into the second period. In this week’s News and Rumors roundup, we will explore the milestones achieved by Terry and Mason McTavish in Monday’s game, along with trade speculations and standout performances by Ducks prospects in junior leagues.
Terry and McTavish persist in carving their legacies within the annals of Ducks’ history
Terry recorded a goal and two assists in Monday’s game, marking his 11th career three-point performance. He now shares the ninth spot on the Ducks’ all-time list for games with three points with Jakob Silfverberg and Scott Niedermayer. Rickard Rakell follows closely with 14 such games, but Terry has a long way to go to reach Teemu Selanne’s franchise record of 89. Earlier this season, the 26-year-old forward achieved his first four-point game in the NHL with three goals and one assist in a 4-3 overtime victory against the Arizona Coyotes on November 1.
In the same game, McTavish notched three assists, bringing his career points to 82 (34 goals, 48 assists) in 136 NHL appearances. The 21-year-old winger became the fifth-fastest player in Ducks’ history to reach 80 career points, trailing behind Paul Kariya (80 games), Bobby Ryan (105 games), Trevor Zegras (108 games), and Ryan Getzlaf (121 games). By the way, McTavish has accumulated six three-point performances so far.
The Oilers are in contention for Henrique
Adam Henrique has garnered significant interest leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. According to information from Darren Dreger of TSN, the Edmonton Oilers are one of the teams keen on acquiring the 34-year-old forward.
Dreger discussed the Oilers’ desire to bolster their roster, mentioning their interest in adding a forward to support Leon Draisaitl in the top six. Additionally, there is consideration for Henrique’s potential contribution as a third-line center if he were to join from the Anaheim Ducks. General Manager Ken Holland is exploring various options for Edmonton’s lineup.
A trade involving Henrique from the Ducks could allow the Oilers to split up Draisaitl and Connor McDavid on different lines. This setup could see Henrique playing alongside either center on the wing or taking on a role as the third-line center. Given Henrique’s adaptability and scoring prowess, he presents an appealing prospect for any competitive team. However, a potential challenge in finalizing a deal with the Oilers is the need for a third party to facilitate the trade due to financial constraints. The Oilers’ limited deadline cap space of just over 5.825 million cap hit.
Dionicio has been chosen as the OHL Player of the Week
Despite earning points consistently, the San Diego Gulls remain outside the playoff contention in the American Hockey League (AHL). They suffered a 4-3 overtime loss to the Bakersfield Condors on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Having secured points in 12 of their last 16 games with a record of 9-4-3, the Gulls are still trailing by seven points for a playoff position. Currently, the Bakersfield Condors and Ontario Reign occupy the last two playoff berths in the Pacific Division.
Olen Zellweger, who contributed two assists in the recent defeat, has recorded two goals and nine points in his last seven games. Meanwhile, Pavol Regenda, who tallied one goal and one assist against the Condors, has amassed one goal and seven assists during his six-game point streak. Both players are strong contenders for potential recalls from the AHL post the NHL trade deadline.
