Plante Coming Into His Own As A Prospect

Alex Plante's mix of size, toughness, and skill undoubtedly excited the Oilers on Draft Day 2007. However his '07-08 season was a write off due to injuries and he seemed to take a major step backwards.

This season and especially this post season where Plante is just 2 goals shy of tying his regular season total of 8 in 51 less games. He is tied for first on Calgary in PP goals with 3 and is the leading blueliner in that category. As a matter of fact he is first in goals for a d-man with 6, first in points with 15, and 2nd in +/- for Calgary d-men with a +13.

Despite the fact that I haven't watched any of this years WHL playoffs, it sure seems like Mr. Plante is coming into his own right now. I am looking forward to seeing him in Springfield next season. His size and strength should translate well and with another summer of working on his skating could help him to be an impact defenseman for the Falcons next year in a 2nd pairing role.

With so many Oilers prospects going in the wrong direction this season in terms of development, Plante's progression has been a breath of fresh air.

Oilers Top 20 Prospects, #13 D Alex Plante

After a disastrous season following his 1st round selection by the Edmonton Oilers, Alex Plante appears to be back on track. First he came to Oilers camp and had an extended stay while refusing to report to the Calgary Hitmen camp. In that time he showed some signs of improvement and some of what the Oilers obviously had seen to draft him in the middle of the 1st round.

Plante has a huge frame, a good shot, and he can also move the puck pretty well. A definite long term project, the Oilers could reap the rewards of being patient with the 6'4" 220lb. blueliner. He has already far surpassed his disappointing totals from '07-08, and he has been a part of a very productive blueline in Calgary this season. The Hitmen have 4 of the top 25 scoring defensemen in the WHL with Plante being the lowest scoring of the quartet with 9 points (2-7-9) in 14 games.

However unlike his fellow high scoring Hitmen defensemen, Plante is really racking up the penalty minutes. 48 penalty minutes in 14 games to be exact. His penalty breakdown is very diverse, general penalties: Interference 3, tripping 1, high sticking 1, unsportsmanlike conduct 1, hooking 2, holding 1. And for aggressive penalties: Fighting 4, roughing 4, elbowing 1

Plante definitely seems to be ready, willing, and able to play a tough "in your face game". With his size and offensive potential, in time he could become the player that the Oilers anticipated that he'd become when going off a number of draft boards to select Plante with the 15th overall pick in 2007.

However based on his penalty breakdown, it appears as if his speed is still the major concern with this player. 7 penalties that are generally taken when a player is beaten on a play or possibly due to careless use of the stick, as well as a few plays that sometimes just happen in the course of a game.

His mobility will be what catapults him to the NHL or keeps him in the lower levels of North American pro hockey. However if his skating comes around Oilers fans can only smile when thinking about a Theo Peckham/Alex Plante defensive pairing knocking heads in the Oilers defensive zone.