Oilers bolster forward lines in deal involving Ducks, Lightning

The Edmonton Oilers bolstered their forward lines on Wednesday, acquiring centres Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from the Anaheim Ducks.

In the deal that also involves the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Ducks get a first-round pick in 2024 from the Oilers and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2025 from the Lightning.

The Ducks retain 50 per cent of both players' salaries. Edmonton sent a conditional fourth-round pick to Tampa Bay in exchange for goaltender Ty Taylor and another 25 per cent of Henrique's salary.

The Oilers also receive Anaheim's seventh-round pick in this year's draft.

Henrique's salary this season is US$5.825 million, Carrick's is $850,000. Both forwards are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old Henrique has 18 goals and 24 assists in 60 games this season. He has 257 goals and 264 assists over 890 career games with New Jersey and Anaheim. Carrick, 32, has eight goals and three assists in 61 games this campaign and 26 goals and 22 assists in 224 career games with Toronto and Anaheim.

The moves come a day after the Oilers placed veteran forward Sam Gagner on waivers.

Meanwhile, the league-leading

Florida Panthers got deeper on the wing on Wednesday by acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa, while the Colorado Avalanche loaded up by getting defenceman Sean Walker from Philadelphia and centre Casey Mittelstadt from Buffalo in separate deals.

Colorado traded a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick and centre Ryan Johansen to Philadelphia for Walker and a fifth-rounder in 2026 and got Mittelstadt in a one-for-one trade that sent defenceman Bowen Byram to the Sabres.

The Panthers dealt a fourthround pick in this year's draft to Ottawa for Tarasenko, and the fourth-rounder would upgrade to a 2026 third-rounder if Florida wins the Cup this season. Ottawa also is getting a third-round pick from Florida in 2025, while the Senators are retaining half of Tarasenko's salary.