WASHINGTON — At some point, looking back at 2020-21, Adam Henrique came to symbolize all that was going haywire for the Ducks during the pandemic-altered, 56-game season. He was struggling to score, was scratched from the lineup, was placed on waivers and was unclaimed by any other team.
In time, after a standout performance for Canada at the World Championships, Henrique regained his confidence and his game, and the Ducks have benefited from his improved play to start 2021-22. So, his absence from their lineup Monday because of a lower-body injury was glaring.
Henrique had six goals and 10 assists in 23 games before he was forced from the Ducks’ game Friday against the Calgary Flames, after a tough but legal check along the boards from former teammate Erik Gudbranson. Henrique did not join the Ducks for the start of their five-game trip.
Coach Dallas Eakins shifted Vinni Lettieri into Henrique’s spot on left wing on the Ducks’ top line for Monday’s game against the Washington Capitals. The Ducks also were without center Ryan Getzlaf because of a lower-body injury. Sam Steel filled Getzlaf’s spot for the third game in a row.
“Right now we’ve got to go with what we’ve got,” said Eakins, who did not rule out the chance that either Henrique or Getzlaf could join the team at some point on its five-game trip to play the Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues.
Henrique’s turnaround has coincided with the Ducks’ turnaround this season, filling a key role on their top line. Eakins shifted Henrique to left wing from center in order to make way for rookie Trevor Zegras to assume the center spot on the second line. Henrique didn’t complain.
“It was the most simple conversation ever,” Eakins said. “I went to him and said, ‘We may move you to the wing. It’ll either be with ‘Z’ or ‘Getzy.’’’ He just looked at me and said, ‘You play me wherever you want.’ That was literally the conversation. There was none of this, ‘Well, I’m a centerman. I need this. I need this.’ It was, ‘Whatever is best for the team. Put me there.’ But that’s who he is.”
Eakins also praised Henrique for maintaining a positive attitude last season and for arriving at training camp in September ready to put 2020-21 behind him. It couldn’t have been easy, given all that happened, especially the awkwardness of returning to the team after he had been waived.
“I think we all just got caught on a snowball going the wrong way last year and couldn’t get off of it,” Eakins said. “I think his attitude, and his positive vibes and character, right from when he showed up in the summer through training camp has been a big part of what’s been going on here. We’ve got a number of guys who are really key in injecting that kind of mindset that we’re riding off right now.
“He’s been one of them. And now not having him here is … (putting) greater responsibility now (on the other lines) on both sides of the puck.”
LINEUP SHUFFLE
Eakins inserted Buddy Robinson into the lineup Monday against the Capitals after he was scratched for Friday’s game following his recall from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. Eakins could have shifted Bo Groulx onto the fourth line, after his recall Sunday from San Diego.
“(But) he had a hell of a day of travel,” Eakins said of Groulx’s day-long journey from Stockton, where the Gulls had played Saturday, to Washington. “Stockton to Sacramento to somewhere else and then to here. I saw him this morning and he looked like a dog’s breakfast.”