Oilers' Warren Foegele Becoming Trade Candidate

The Edmonton Oilers have been linked to Travis Konecny and other teams that will likely move on from one or more top-six forwards this season. There just isn't enough cap space for the Oilers to realistically pull that off without an injury to a major player or by moving money out.

The Oilers have some candidates to move money out, but some would cost them like Jack Campbell. Since he's bound to be an offseason buyout candidate and there is no replacement for someone like Cody Ceci on the back-end, my focus is on Warren Foegele to pull anything off for a top-six forward this season.

Yes, Foegele has been a strong addition to the second line, but if the Oilers upgrade, and they are looking for a top-six forward, it will push Foegele down to the third line. The Oilers may have only thought Foegele and Ryan McLeod playing on the second line was temporary until they want Evander Kane moved back up or acquire someone.

Since Foegele makes $2.75 million AAV and is a UFA at the end of the year without a new contract being discussed yet, he makes the most sense. Kane is needed for playoffs and the big four other forwards should be untouchable with how productive they've been. It also wouldn't make sense to subtract a top-six player and bring one in. Though Foegele would be a solid third line player to keep for another couple of years, if the Oilers need to move someone by moving out money up front, he is the logical player to send out.