Captain Connor
By baggedmilk
7 years ago
Today, the Edmonton Oilers announced that Connor McDavid would be the 15th captain in franchise history. McDavid becomes the youngest Oiler to don the captaincy, becoming the first teenager to have the letter sewn onto his jersey. My friends, a new era is upon us.
Although Connor McDavid becomes the youngest captain in Oilers’ history, I personally believe that he can handle it. This kid has the demeanour, the talent, and the work ethic to not only lead the Oilers on the ice, but to also offer them an example of what it takes to be great. He may not be a big talker, but I don’t think anyone questions what he can do where it matters. The Oilers obviously know what they have in Connor McDavid and if they see what we all see (they do), then it only makes sense to name him their captain.
I have to admit that I’m curious to see what the reaction will be like from fans and media outside of Edmonton: Will they get it like we get it, or will there be some kind of “Oh, look at Edmonton doing weird things” type of narrative that we’ve read so many times over the years. I can see why some people might question the logic of naming a 19-year old as captain considering he has only played 45 NHL games. The difference, of course, is that the 19-year old we’re speaking of is Connor McDavid. This ain’t no ordinary teenager, guy. This kid is legit.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING…
Regardless of what the reaction will be, the Oilers have a captain that is undoubtedly the most skilled player on this hockey team. When was the last time we could say that? Doug Weight, probably? With no disrespect to the captains that followed (I loved Jason Smith as a captain), the Oilers haven’t been led by their most skilled player in years, but that all changes today. When the hockey world looks at the Edmonton Oilers they will see the team’s best player as the face of the franchise, and now as the man baring the captaincy.
As rumours swirled that Connor would be named captain during training camp, his teammates were often asked what they thought. I put together a bunch of quotes from Connor’s teammates and what they’ve been saying about him all summer:
Cam Talbot:
“I think, on the ice, he does everything the right way. He doesn’t take shortcuts, he’s always the first one up the ice, first guy back on the backcheck. He leads by example on and off the ice, just the way he carries himself. There’s different ways that you can lead and it doesn’t always have to be vocal. Connor is just one of those guys who leads by example and that’s a guy you can follow.” source
Jordan Eberle:
“I’m a strong believer in guys that lead by example. I’ve played with Connor and he’s an exceptional player and I think he’ll be the future of hockey. It doesn’t matter if he has [the captaincy], or I have it, you just want a collective group of leaders. I think we do in Edmonton. “Ultimately, one day, I think he will be our leader.” source
Needless to say, Connor’s teammates obviously think highly of him and don’t seem bothered by the idea of him captaining the team. While I don’t take Connor McDavid to be the kind of guy to do a bunch of speeches and rallying of the troops (let Lucic handle that), I do see him leading them by example, on and off the ice. If this team is going to be successful, they’re going to have to learn to work as a unit, and, as of today, they’ll be expected to work as hard as their captain.
Taylor Hall:
“I’m not there anymore so it’s not something I’ve given much thought to, but I do think that they need a captain,” said Hall. “They need someone that has a ‘C’ on their jersey and if that’s Connor, he’s going to do a good job, there’s no doubt about it.” source
Having your teammates pump your tires is one thing, but what about the coach?
“Connor was a tremendous leader with us this year in his short time with us. His presence alone when he walks into the room — and he knows it — he exudes confidence, he carries himself properly,” Todd McLellan said. “I think leaders attract to people. You want to be in his corner, you want to be around him and leaders, when they attract people, they care about people, too. And Connor has that going. He’s still 19, but I think he’s close to being the guy and ready for it.” source
Still not convinced? Let Wayne Gretzky teach you something.
“In my point of view, I think he’s mature enough that he can handle it at any age. I think that the best players in the game, the best athletes in their particular sport, are guys that want that pressure. They want that demand put on them. No question, he understands who he is and the focus and everything that is bestowed upon him.” source
UPDATES
INITIAL REACTION
Here’s a taste from Twitter:
CONNOR MCDAVID’S CAREER SO FAR
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 45 | 16 | 32 | 48 | 18 | -1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL Totals | 45 | 16 | 32 | 48 | 18 |
It actually feels weird to be posting these numbers here because his experience at the NHL level is so low. That being said, we all know about the broken collarbone that wiped half of Connor’s rookie season away, but even with those games lost, this always felt like Connor’s team. Experience or not, this kid is for real and I don’t think there’s many people that would deny that.
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