The Edmonton Oilers' biggest need in trade this season is a top four defenceman to play alongside Darnell Nurse, but they may have to outhit their rival Vancouver Canucks for the best available option.
Josh Yohe of the Athletic named the Oilers and Canucks as the two teams currently making a push to acquire defenceman Marcus Pettersson from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"Marcus Pettersson is the most likely candidate to be on the move. League sources said the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks have interest in the lanky defenseman, and there's every reason to believe other teams will covet him."
- Josh Yohe
The 28 year old Pettersson is a left shot defenceman in the final year of his contract that pays only $4.025M, and he's put up great analytical results in the last few seasons.
The Oilers have been connected to Pettersson numerous times in the last few weeks, and as the continued to start the season in mediocre fashion, Stan Bowman was reported to be aggressively shopping for a trade.
Oilers reporter Jim Matheson revealed the expected price to acquire Pettersson will be only a second round draft pick and a prospect ready to make the jump to the NHL. The Oilers certainly have those assets to trade, but again, the only problem will be the Canucks.
The Oilers would likely need Pittsburgh to retain salary on the deal, which would increase the trade price to include an additional draft pick.
Jim Rutherford and the Canucks have been known to strike for an early trade the season, just like they did last year with Nikita Zadorov. If the Oilers really want Pettersson, they may need to act quick to pick him up.
Surprisingly, Josh Yohe also said that the Penguins could entertain trade for icon Kris Letang this year as well. Perhaps if the Oilers miss out on Pettersson, they pivot instead to the older star defender.
"If one of the Big Three is to move on, it will almost certainly be Letang."
- Josh Yohe, The Athletic
We'll see how the next few weeks shake out, but trade talk is beginning to pick up now that teams have seen the early results of their team. Edmonton surely needs help on the blueline, it's now just a matter of how quickly they act.
