Oilers Activate Henrique as Kapanen Faces New Injury Setback

Oilers hope Henrique's return will boost faceoffs and penalty killing as Kapanen deals with another injury.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 9:51am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Edmonton Oilers will activate veteran center Adam Henrique for their upcoming game against the Anaheim Ducks, as winger Kasperi Kapanen faces a new minor injury that is expected to sideline him for at least the start of the team's three-game California road trip. Henrique has missed the last 15 games but is now in solid condition, while Kapanen has managed 5 goals and 7 assists in 19 games since returning from a prior lower-body injury.

Why it matters

Henrique's return offers a much-needed boost to the Oilers' depth and special teams, but Kapanen's ongoing injury issues raise uncertainties around the team's offensive consistency as they embark on a crucial road trip.

The details

With Kapanen unavailable and Henrique rejoining the squad, Edmonton faces tough decisions regarding roster composition for their trip west. The team must choose between promoting a forward to fill the vacancy or dressing seven defensemen instead.

  • Henrique has missed the last 15 games.
  • Kapanen has managed 5 goals and 7 assists in 19 outings since coming back from a prior lower-body injury.

The players

Adam Henrique

A veteran center for the Edmonton Oilers who has been sidelined for more than six weeks with an undisclosed injury.

Kasperi Kapanen

A winger for the Edmonton Oilers who is dealing with a fresh minor injury that is expected to sideline him for at least the start of the team's three-game California road trip.

Kris Knoblauch

The head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Henrique's return is expected to strengthen our effectiveness in faceoffs and penalty kill situations.”

— Kris Knoblauch, Head Coach

What’s next

The Oilers must finalize their roster decisions before Wednesday's matchup against the Anaheim Ducks, choosing whether to promote a forward or dress seven defensemen to fill Kapanen's absence.

The takeaway

Henrique's return offers a much-needed boost to the Oilers' depth and special teams, but Kapanen's ongoing injury issues raise concerns about the team's offensive consistency as they face a crucial road trip. How the Oilers manage these lineup challenges could influence their short-term performance and momentum.