The Edmonton Oilers were captainless this season in yet another campaign that ended with a trip to the lottery. Higher expectations didn’t translate into better results, but one thing that went right was Connor McDavid.
Despite missing a big chunk of the season due to injuries, the first overall pick delivered on his promise as the next great one with 48 points in 45 games. Now it appears the Oilers are taking the next step in committing to the 19-year-old, as Mark Spector of Sportsnet reports the Oilers are expected to name McDavid their captain in 2016-17.
“Connor McDavid will be named as the Oilers’ captain at the age of 19 next fall, one of the items that was deduced at general manager Peter Chiarelli’s season-ending press briefing Sunday. Asked if his team would have a captain next season where this year it did not, the GM responded quickly: “I would think so, that we would have a captain next year.”
The decision is frankly a no-brainer for the club. McDavid is the present and future of the Oilers, and the sooner they make him the captain, the sooner Edmonton can have stability in its leadership role. McDavid would join Gabriel Landeskog, Sidney Crosby, Vincent Lecavalier and Brian Bellows as the only 19-year-old captains in NHL history.
The Oilers are likely hoping the move will be the first step into turning around their decade-long stretch of mediocrity. With McDavid leading the team for years to come their fate should change for the better. But, let’s not forget, this is the Oilers we’re talking about. Either way, fans should be thrilled with the news.
