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The rebuild through defense

The No. 1 pick is a great thing for the Oilers, but it's still a long road back. Getty Images

Plugging Holes -- Edmonton Oilers

The Hole: a shutdown defenseman

Last year, we recommended the Oilers shore up defensively by signing someone like Edmontonian Blair Betts. Unfortunately, they focused elsewhere and wound up finishing fifth-to-last in penalty killing, fourth-to-last in shots against and dead last in both goals against and defensive GVT. No one is expecting the Oilers to win the Cup, but they need to find someone who can improve their defensive respectability while their young stars develop.