Oilers Rumors: 4 Veteran Defenseman Who Are Trade Options

It has been reported that the Edmonton Oilers are in search of some defensive help and it is not at all surprising. There were some changes in the offseason and even though the team has been strong overall at stopping good chances against, the goaltending has struggled.

That being said, the Oilers still seem determined to get an upgrade for their top-4 on the right side regardless of their handedness. The Fourth Period listed Cam Fowler, Ivan Provorov, David Savard, and Marcus Pettersson as trade options for the Oilers.

Savard has been linked to Edmonton since last season as the veteran plays a style of game that could complement Darnell Nurse well on the second pairing and provide strong defensive play. The 34-year-old is in the fourth year of a four-year deal at $3.5 million AAV and the Montreal Canadiens are not only at the bottom of the league, they have a lot of young defensemen and will be looking to free up some roster space.

Fowler will be a little easier to move if the team retains salary on his contract. He still has another year left on his deal after this season at $6.5 million AAV, but has been steady and consistent as anyone in the league the past many years. He is not only used to logging a ton of minutes, he can produce points as well as playing solid defensively. Anaheim also has some young defensemen who can step up and fill the role as they have been doing this season.

Provorov was also on the Oilers' radar last season before the deadline and he has been playing the right side this season for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is in the final year of his contract that has a total salary of $6.75 million AAV, but $2 million has already been retained by the Philadelphia Flyers. Columbus would surely retain more and the Oilers could get a solid top-4 defenseman for less than $3 million. He has always been able to produce offensively, plays physically, and blocks a ton of shots.

Pettersson is at the top of some trade lists this season as the Pittsburgh Penguins are imploding and almost anyone could be traded before the trade deadline. Pettersson can add a little offense as he got 30 points last season, but he is a beast when it comes to blocking shots and hitting. The Penguins have to be cautious with who they use their final cap retention spot on, but Pettersson's $4.025 million cap hit could be the one as he is in the last year of his deal.

Any of these veterans would be a solid pickup for the Oilers just to beef up their back-end ahead of another playoff run.