As the NHL's trade deadline nears, a big addition to the Edmonton Oilers roster could come from within the organization.

General manager Peter Chiarelli recently made the trip to Bakersfield in order to check in on Jesse Puljujarvi, the 18-year-old first-round pick who was sent to the AHL earlier this season in order to develop his game.

Chiarelli certainly appears to have liked what he saw.

"He is getting a lot of touches and you could see his confidence is coming back," the GM told Chris Wescott of EdmontonOilers.com. "The defensive side of his game is getting better, and he's made a lot of progress down there and he's playing a lot of minutes."

After managing only a goal and eight points in his first 27 NHL games, Puljujarvi has recorded five goals and six assists in 15 games for the Condors, including three goals in his past four games.

As a result, he could certainly warrant a recall later this season, giving the seemingly playoff-bound Oilers a potential offensive boost from within as other teams look for help prior to the March 1 deadline.

"He's going to be in the conversation come the deadline," said Chiarelli. "He's a dangerous player down there. He was far and above the most dangerous player I saw in both the games down there."

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.