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Henrique Inks Six-Year Deal with Devils

The Devils re-signed center Adam Henrique last week to a six-year, $24 million contract, thereby locking up one of their most promising young offensive players.

Henrique has tallied 27 goals and 40 assists in 116 regular season games over his first two regular seasons with the Devils. During New Jersey’s 2011-2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs run, Henrique recorded five goals and eight assists, and finished with a +12 rating. For his efforts, Henrique was named to the 2011-12 NHL All-Rookie Team and finished third in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy.

The last Devils player to be named to the All-Rookie Team was Niclas Bergfors in 2009-10 after he posted 13 goals and 14 assists; New Jersey traded him, Johnny Oduya, Patrice Cormier, and its first round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft to the Atlanta Thrashers for Ilya Kovalchuck, Anssi Salmela, and the Thrashers second round pick in the same draft.

Henrique also tied an NHL record in the 2011-12 Stanley Cup Playoffs by scoring two series-clinching goals: one in double overtime in Game 7 against the Florida Panthers in the first round; the other in overtime in Game 6 against the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The latter is one the greatest moments in Devils history, as it not only stuck it to New Jersey’s Hudson River rivals, but also avenged the 1993-94 Eastern Conference Finals in which the Rangers topped the Devils in double OT of Game 7 with a wrap-around goal from Stephane Matteau and went on to win the Stanley Cup.

Adam Henrique #14 of the New Jersey Devils celerbates after scoring the game winning goal in overtime against Henrik Lundqvist
NEWARK, NJ – MAY 25: Adam Henrique #14 of the New Jersey Devils celerbates after scoring the game winning goal in overtime against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers to win Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final and advance to the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Prudential Center on May 25, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey.
(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Side note: the winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy that year was none other than Martin Brodeur.

Henrique’s numbers from the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season were solid as he tied for third on the team with Kovalchuk in goals with 11 – including three power play goals and two shorthanded goals – plus five assists, totaling the seventh most points for New Jersey.

Henrique Inks Six-Year Deal with Devils
NEWARK, NJ – APRIL 12: Adam Henrique #14 of the New Jersey Devils in action against the Ottawa Senators at the Prudential Center on April 12, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. The Senators defeated the Devils 2-0.
(Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Given the forwards who have flown the coop in the past year and a half, securing Henrique’s contract was a vital piece to the Devils working their way back to being a playoff caliber team.

Rachel Askin

Rachel Askin

Superwoman at LevelUp
I once was selected for Score-O at Continental Airlines Arena and missed by a half inch.
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