One common line of thinking amongst Oilers fans when it comes to the team’s current offer sheet conundrum is to simply let Philip Broberg go to the St. Louis Blues and take the second-round pick as compensation. Then, to upgrade the blueline, the team could go and flip that second-round pick for an actual right-shot defenceman.
In theory, it sounds relatively simple. Broberg will be overpaid at $4.5 million so why not use that money and the asset that would come with letting him walk and bring in a piece that is more of a sure thing?
Of course, making trades is never as simple as just snapping your fingers. It takes two to tango as the old saying goes and the Oilers would need to find another team that has a quality right-shot defenceman that they’d be willing to move off of.
Also, the second-round pick likely wouldn’t be enough to get the job done.
We discussed this a little bit yesterday on Oilersnation Everyday but maybe getting a second-round pick back from the Blues makes it easier for the Oilers to stomach trading away their 2025 or 2026 first-round pick. The team needs to keep one of those to eventually send to the Philadelphia Flyers as a part of their trade on draft day but the other one can be moved.
If they’re going to get a quality defenceman, it will likely cost a first-round pick. The second-round pick likely wouldn’t get the Oilers the piece they need.
The easiest way to see if there are any good fits on the market would be to look ahead to next year’s free agent crop and see if there are any players entering the final years of their contracts. If a team feels like the offer they’re getting from the Oilers right now is better than what they could potentially get for a their pending free agent at the deadline, maybe they can make a deal happen.
I went over to our friends at PuckPedia and I searched for right-shot defencemen who are entering the final year of their contracts and there are some pretty interesting names.
Players like Aaron Ekblad and Brent Burns are on the list, but their cap hits are huge and they’re on teams that view themselves as Cup contenders. They aren’t realistic targets. Here are some names that I think could eventually become available this season:

Dec 18, 2019; St. Louis, MO, USA; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson (6) looks on during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Adam Larsson

The best pure fit on the market is the former Oiler. We know that part of the reason he left Edmonton is because he wanted a fresh start after his father passed away while visiting him in the city, but maybe he’d be open to a reunion after spending a few years in Seattle. The idea of winning a Stanley Cup with a group he’s familiar with might be tempting and would help him get another payday next summer as a UFA.
His cap hit is $4 million and if the Kraken would be willing to eat a portion of it, then the Oilers could fit him in. The Oilers could also send Cody Ceci in the deal and the Kraken could view him as a piece that they eventually flip at the deadline to bring in even more assets.
The biggest problem here is that Seattle is going to try to contend this season so I doubt they’d move Larsson. This might be a player that’s available closer to the deadline if they fall out of the race, but not right now.

Henri Jokiharju

He isn’t a household name but Jokharju averaged over 17 minutes a game at 5v5 alone last season with the Buffalo Sabres and when he was on the ice at 5v5, the Sabres outscored their opposition 59-45 (56.73 GF%). The only problem here is that he didn’t spend a lot of time on the PK, finishing sixth on the Sabres blueline in shorthanded TOI.
His cap hit is $3.1 million so the Oilers could make it work. I think he’s a pretty solid player, but the team can probably aim higher. The Sabres, like the Kraken, also have dreams of making it to the playoffs this season so I doubt they’d consider moving one of their more experienced defencemen before the season.

Neal Pionk

Remember when he all hated Pionk because of how physical he was against Connor McDavid in that playoff series a while ago? Well, the Oilers could use a defender like that. Pionk can log minutes at 5v5, although he gets some mixed results and I do wonder how he’d be viewed if he didn’t have perennial Vezina Trophy finalist Connor Hellebuyck behind him.
Still, he plays hard at 5v5, he shoots right, and he can kill penalties. He’d be a decent option for the Oilers to consider although I wonder how well he’d fit with Darnell Nurse. I’m not sure if his game compliments Nurse’s all that well.
Also, this is another situation where the Jets want to contend, not sell so I don’t think Pionk is available right now.

To Conclude…

Outside of those three, there are some other names that intrigue me but are lower down the list. Dante Fabbro is a player I really like, but again, Nashville wants to win and they have a really good team.
Jan Rutta and David Savard are two veteran options that would be fine, but they aren’t enough of an upgrade. I want Stan Bowman to aim higher here. 
There isn’t a slam dunk fit on the trade market right now which makes me think the Oilers will either just match Philip Broberg’s offer sheet and keep him in the mix or they’ll let Broberg walk, sign a veteran free agent like Justin Shultz or Tyson Barrie, and then try to make a big Ekholm-esque splash at the trade deadline.
Who knows who could be available then?