If impending unrestricted free agent Dustin Byfuglien makes it to Trade Deadline Day on Feb. 29 unsigned by the Winnipeg Jets, he is almost certain to be ranked No. 1 on the TSN Trade Bait board.

So that's where he sits on the first Trade Bait list, less than four weeks from the deadline.

Byfuglien, 30, is a physical force with a proven scoring touch. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound blueliner has 14 goals and 15 assists in 49 games played this season.

The top five also includes two young players who are available due to extenuating circumstances — Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Jonathan Drouin, 20, and New York Islanders' defenceman Travis Hamonic, 25.

Drouin, second on our list, formally requested a trade from the Lightning in November and is currently suspended without pay for refusing to suit up for Tampa's AHL affiliate. Hamonic, fifth on the list, asked to be moved to Western Canada prior the start of the season for family reasons.

Bruins winger Loui Eriksson sits third, a crafty veteran who could provide some offensive pop (15 goals and 24 assists in 49 games) to another lineup if Boston decides to move on from one of the main pieces acquired in the Tyler Seguin trade.

Byfuglien's Winnipeg teammate and fellow pending unrestricted free agent Andrew Ladd is fourth, an indication of just how important the next few weeks will be for Jets' general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. Will he trade his top defenceman and team captain? Can he find a way to get one or both inked to a long-term deal?

The rest of the top 10 is comprised of veteran players on expiring deals: Carolina centre Eric Staal, Toronto defenceman Roman Polak, Vancouver teammates Radim Vrbata and Dan Hamhuis, and Calgary forward Jiri Hudler.
 

2016 Trade Bait – Potentially On The Move

 
Player Pos Age Cap Hit GP P Past 2015-16
1. Dustin Byfuglien, Wpg D 30 $5.2m 49 29 UFA
2. Jonathan Drouin, Tam LW 20 $894k 19 8 1 year
3. Loui Eriksson, Bos RW 30 $4.25m 49 39 UFA
4. Andrew Ladd, Wpg LW 30 $4.4m 49 27 UFA
5. Travis Hamonic, NYI D 25 $3.86m 43 10 4 years
6. Eric Staal, Car C 31 $8.25m 51 30 UFA
7. Roman Polak, Tor D 29 $2.75m 46 10 UFA
8. Radim Vrbata, Van RW 34 $5m 48 22 UFA
9. Dan Hamhuis, Van D 33 $4.5m 27 4 UFA
10. Jiri Hudler, Cgy RW 32 $4m 41 24 UFA