The Edmonton Oilers have once again started a season struggling defensively and a new report has linked the team to a potential upgrade in a trade with the Penguins. The Edmonton Oilers were hoping to start off this season with a bang after their impressive run to the Stanley Cup Finals last season. So far that has not been the case as several big stars for the Oilers have struggled to perform at their expected level. With the team out of a playoff spot early in the season <a href='https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/edmonton-oilers/stuart-skinner-settling-in-as-edmonton-oilers-prepare-for-detroit-red-wings' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Edmonton Journal reporter Jim Matheson</a> has found a potential solution for the Oilers to upgrade on defense. <h3>Oilers reporter connects the team to a Penguins top-four defenseman</h3> In a new article covering several topics involving the Edmonton Oilers Jim Matheson discussed the team's options to find a top defenseman on the trade market. The Edmonton Oilers would obviously prefer a right-handed defenseman as that is where they are the weakest but at the moment Jim Matheson believes that market is too small to explore. With so few right-shot D available at the trade deadline, we suspect the Oilers are casting a wider net, including the lefty defensive top 4 defenders, and maybe rejigging their pairs. Instead, he suggested that the Oilers try and acquire Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson. The Penguins are another team who are struggling and could look to offload pieces sooner rather than later. If they were to offload a defenseman it would likely be Marcus Pettersson as he is on an expiring contract. And, yes, Penguins UFA Marcus Pettersson, 28, would fit here. Contract talks on an extension for him have been put on hold. He's probably in the $5.025 million AAV range of Dallas's Esa Lindell on the open market next July. Marcus Pettersson will be a name that Edmonton Oilers fans should be familiar with. Just a couple of nights ago he dropped the gloves with Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/PensInsideScoop/status/1850017028486180910'> </a></blockquote></div> This wouldn't necessarily be a flashy trade for the Edmonton Oilers but one that could solidify their defense for now. Bringing in Marcus Pettersson would provide a solid two-way defenseman who doesn't offer a lot offensively on his own but could be a great partner for a player like Evan Bouchard or Mattias Ekholm and allow them to take more chances offensively. To make this move the Edmonton Oilers would need to clear around 4 million dollars in salary cap space. Trading a player like Viktor Arvidsson or Adam Henrique in return to the Penguins would clear this space and not lead to the Oilers losing much production. To make this work the Oilers would likely have to give away a top prospect or a few draft picks. As more reports come out regarding Edmonton Oilers potential trade options to improve and turn things around we will pass along the latest news and notes.