The Anaheim Ducks halted a three-game losing skid with a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday (Jan. 23). The Ducks managed to hold on for the victory after carrying the play through the first two periods. The team’s 16th win of the 2023-24 season was highlighted by a couple of special milestones that will be covered in the latest News and Rumors roundup. Additionally, we have some recent trade buzz surrounding Adam Henrique to examine as well as another injury scare to discuss.
Henrique Becoming a Hot Commodity
Henrique is “drawing a lot of interest from opposing clubs right now,” according to NHL analyst and insider Kevin Weekes. He didn’t go into specifics, but from what is already out there this news doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The 33-year-old forward is reliable in all situations and his scoring touch should make him attractive to any contending team that is looking to bolster its forward depth.
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Henrique has been doing a good job of increasing his trade value by producing five goals and five assists in his past nine appearances. The Ducks will probably need to retain salary in any deal involving Henrique, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in the summer. That should garner a sweetener coming back to the Ducks in the form of a draft pick or a prospect.
Zellweger Makes NHL Debut
Olen Zellweger was recalled from the San Diego Gulls of the America Hockey League (AHL) ahead of Tuesday’s matchup. The 20-year-old blueliner registered two shots on goal, three blocked shots, one hit and a power-play assist in 13:42 of ice time during his NHL debut versus the Sabres. Zellweger was paired with Ilya Lyubushkin, who has been a popular safety net for the club’s rookie rearguards this campaign. Lyubushkin has spent most of his 2023-24 playing time alongside Pavel Mintyukov, who is recovering from a separated shoulder.
Zellweger became the second Ducks rookie this season to pick up a point in his NHL debut after Leo Carlsson accomplished the feat with a goal against the Dallas Stars back on Oct. 19. Both players were deployed on the team’s top power-play combination in Tuesday’s contest. Zellweger’s point shot was stopped by Sabres netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but Sam Carrick batted the rebound out of the air to get the rookie onto the scoresheet.
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