"Ryan O'Marra and Alex Plante have lots in common. Both are big guys with sufficient hockey talent to have been taken in the middle of the first round, 15th overall in each case, in 2005 and 2007 respectively. Both (assets) were acquired by the Edmonton Oilers in the Ryan Smyth trade. Both are defence-first players who have developed at what seems a snail's pace to impatient fans (and let's face it, that's most of us).

Despite that perceived snail's pace, I'm not yet ready to proclaim O'Marra or Plante as failed prospects, although it is distinctly possible one or both of them is failing. For now, I consider both to be middle-of-the-road prospects worthy of inclusion on our third team of All-Calder-Eligibles, the Green ACEs. Indeed, as the only two of the six with NHL experience and the likeliest to see more big-league action this coming season, they're the headliners.

The Oilers have stuck with both guys, giving each a cup of NHL coffee two seasons in a row. As the older of the two, Ryan O'Marra got a more extended look in 2010-11 followed by a contract extension. Indeed, if ROM had played four more games last season, or three more the year before, he would no longer be in consideration for our All-Calder-Eligible teams, and can be considered the senior member of the group. At age 24 and with 291 professional games under his belt, O'Marra may no longer face the highest expectations, but he does face them soonest."