Four Edmonton Oilers, first-round pick listed on latest TSN trade bait list

TSN dropped their latest trade bait list, highlighting a group of 50 players and assets they feel most likely will be on the move ahead of the trade deadline.

Atop the list was Calgary Flames netminder Jacob Markstrom, who was reportedly nearly dealt to the New Jersey Devils last week before trade talks fell apart.

And on that list are five different Oilers assets, including four players and their first-round pick, the latter of which comes in at No. 5.

It’s no surprise that the draft pick is in play. The Oilers are in win-now mode, and if things fall right, that should be a very late-round pick. For the Oilers, this is their biggest carrot to dangle ahead of the deadline.

Coming in at No. 31 is winger Warren Foegele, who could find his way out of town due to cap purposes. A pending UFA, Foegele carries a $2.75-million cap hit, and theoretically be involved in a deal where the Oilers are acquiring a player with a significant cap.  He, however, is someone I am a fan of, and I think his contributions on the ice go beyond the scoresheet. Maybe the Oilers look to add a third liner and bump Foegele back up to the second line alongside Leon Draisaitl, where he had much offensive success this season.

Two of the remaining three assets on the list are defencemen Brett Kulak and Cody Ceci, who are the most obvious spots for the Oilers to upgrade on the blueline. Kulak came in at No. 40, while Ceci was No. 48. Kulak, with two years left on a deal paying him $2.75-million, and Ceci, with another year left at $3.25-million, would essentially be cap casualties if the Oilers look to upgrade their blue line.

The last asset worth talking about is that of prospect Phillip Broberg, who comes in at No. 41 on the list, and has been crushing it in the American Hockey League this season. Broberg’s been in trade conversations for months now, dating back to December when he and his agent were reportedly granted permission to seek a trade. He was sent to the Oilers’ AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors, where Broberg has scored one goal and 19 points in 29 games this season.

Much like the Oilers’ first round pick, Broberg is likely one of the most valuable assets the club has to dangle as they look to upgrade their roster ahead of the March 8th trade deadline.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.