The Edmonton Oilers are hunting for a defenceman in trade this season, and with the Pittsburgh Penguins declaring a fire sale, Stan Bowman may have his primary target.
Penguins defenceman Marcus Pettersson has been named a top trade target for the Oilers, and now insider Jim Matheson has revealed what it may cost Edmonton to acquire him.
Matheson believes it will take a second round draft pick and another prospect to trade for Pettersson, but also that the Oilers would need salary retention to make the money work.
Pettersson is currently under contract for $4.025M. If the Oilers needed the Penguins or a third team to retain 50% of his salary, that would likely cost them another second or third round draft pick.
The Edmonton Oilers could certainly swing that total trade price to acquire Marcus Pettersson. The Oilers have the draft capital from the offer sheets made by the St. Louis Blues, but they may be reluctant to trade one of their few high end prospects - perhaps they substitute another draft pick.
By most scouting reports, Marcus Pettersson is a high-impact two way defenceman. The only drawback to his fit in Edmonton is the fact that he's a left handed shot, but that's why Knoblauch is playing Darnell Nurse on his off side at the moment. If it continues to work, the Oilers could trade for a left shot defenceman.
We'll see how the situation evolves for Pittsburgh, but the Penguins are seemingly willing to trade off assets as soon as possible. The Oilers may want to wait until the trade deadline, and properly scoot every option available.
