3 reasons why the Islanders must make a strong play for Adam Henrique

Henrique offers more defense for an Islanders team that needs it

While the Islanders are close to being one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, it doesn’t mean they are in the top half of goals scored and goals allowed. In fact, thanks to poor play in the defensive zone, goaltenders Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov have been allowing far more pucks into the net this season. 

Both netminders are enjoying respectable quality start percentages of 0.595 and 0.563, respectively plus save percentages of 0.910 or better. On the surface, they are having good seasons. But their respective 3.04 and 2.90 GAAs tell a different story, and it shows just how poorly the Isles have been on defense for most of the season. 

This is where Henrique would make a difference, as, despite the Anaheim Ducks finding themselves in a similar predicament, his possession metrics show us that his on-ice presence has at least helped slow down opposing scorers. At 5-on-5, the Ducks on-ice save percentage sits at 91.2 during Henrique’s shifts, and it’s even riding at a respectable 89.6 at even-strength. 

Once again, if you insert him onto a better hockey team, his presence in the defensive zone will more than help that team win games they otherwise would have lost. Or at the absolute least, Henrique would give them a much better chance to pull off some close wins.