Oilers and Canucks Competing for Top Four Defenceman in Trade, Per Insiders

The Oilers have been connected to defenceman Marcus Pettersson several times in the last few weeks, and now, NHL insider Frank Seravalli is reporting that the Canucks have interest in Pettersson as well.

Pettersson will be one of the most coveted defenceman around the entire league this trade deadline. The 28 year old Swedish defenceman has posted strong analytical results in the last few seasons, and is a pending free agent with a manageable $4.025M salary.

His career best season came last year with the Penguins, scoring 30 points and posting an impressive +28 on ice rating. Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas declared yesterday that the team has made everyone available for trade, and Pettersson will be at the top of most team's lists.

According to Oilers insider Jim Matheson yesterday, the cost to acquire Pettersson will be a second round draft pick and a prospect. The Oilers may have to pay a bit more if they don't want to depart with their limited prospect pool, and if they want Pittsburgh to retain salary on Pettersson's contract.

The Oilers would be able to meet the asking price for Pettersson, so now the real goal will be finding out if he's the right fit for the Oilers lineup and acquiring him before anyone else does. Pettersson is a left shot and the Oilers primarily need a righty, but if they believe they can reconfigure the defence, Pettersson will still be a target.

We'll have to see in the coming weeks how the Oilers will approach their trade deadline acquisition this year. The Canucks are known for picking on their trade targets early, so the Oilers may have to strike quick to beat them out.