The rebuild through defense

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.

After the pay wall: a possible fix for the team, E.J.'s take on it, and more analysis. For all this, essential for pre-July 1 puckheads, you must be an ESPN Insider.

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E.J. Hradek

Senior Writer, ESPN The Magazine

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E.J. Hradek is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine, joining the staff prior to its launch in 1998. He began covering hockey as a writer/editor for Hockey Illustrated in 1989.