Edmonton Oilers interested in trade for penguins top four defenceman

As the Oilers head into this year’s playoffs, their most pressing need is a top-four defenseman, and they may be eyeing a player from the Penguins to fill this role.
According to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, contract negotiations have stalled between Marcus Pettersson and the Penguins, making him a potential trade candidate at the deadline. While the Oilers primarily seek a right-shot defenseman, the limited options available could lead them to consider a left-shot player instead.
Pettersson, a 28-year-old left-shot defenseman, has played 454 NHL games with both the Penguins and the Anaheim Ducks. Currently in the final year of his contract, which pays him $4.025 million, he could be a financially feasible addition for the Oilers.
Since becoming a full-time player in the 2018-19 season, Pettersson has developed into a solid two-way defenseman. Although his offensive output has been modest, he achieved a career-high of 4 goals and 30 points last season, along with an impressive +28 plus-minus rating on a struggling Penguins team that missed the playoffs. This season, he has recorded 5 points in 10 games and boasts a strong analytical profile.
If the Oilers’ management determines that a left-shot player like Pettersson is the best fit, it may require players like Darnell Nurse or Brett Kulak to play on their offside. The Oilers have experimented with moving Nurse to the right side, though it didn’t yield the desired results. They might consider trying Kulak on the right in the near future.
The Oilers’ defense has shown vulnerabilities early this season, and if they aim to make a significant trade, it needs to be a game-changing acquisition for their blue line. If ideal right-shot defensemen are not available, they may have to explore other options, hoping that their eventual choice will be beneficial.
This is Marcus Pettersson just casually performing in the 90+ percentile in offensive and defensive categories. No big deal.
Card via @domluszczyszyn pic.twitter.com/7Dfnb4faE9
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) December 19, 2022
If the Oilers management believes a left shot like Pettersson is the best fit at the deadline, it may force a player like Nurse or Kulak to play their offside. The Oilers have recently tried switching Nurse to the right side, but it didn’t pan out well. Maybe they try again with Kulak in the near future.
The Oilers defence early this season has been a clear point of weakness, and if they make one high impact trade through the year, it needs to be a home run add for the blue line. If there aren’t any perfect right shot defenceman available, the Oilers will be forced to look at the rest of the field – hopefully, whatever decision they finally make will pay off.