The Edmonton Oilers have named Connor McDavid as their 15th
and youngest captain in franchise history on Wednesday.
In addition to becoming the youngest captain the Oilers have
ever had, the Newmarket, Ontario native, at 19 years and 266 days, is also the
youngest player to wear the “C” in the history of the National Hockey League.
McDavid will be entering his second season in the NHL, after
the Oilers selected him with the first overall pick in the 2015 entry draft. Through
his rookie season, this past year, he put up 19 goals and 32 assists in 48
games. He was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, presented to the
Rookie of the Year as well.
Following the season, he helped Canada take home the gold at
the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship. With this feat
he became the youngest of four Canadians who have won the gold during the IIHF World
Championship, IIHF World Junior Championship and IIHF Under-18 World
Championship. The other three players include; Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and
Ryan Ellis.
Over the summer McDavid captained Team North America during
the 2016 World Cup of Hockey tournament in Toronto. During the World Cup, he had
three assists in three games.
Prior to being the first overall selection last summer, he
led the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League to the OHL Final before
falling to the eventual Memorial Cup Champions, the Oshawa Generals.
In 2015, He was named the Canadian Hockey League, Player of
the Year and the OHL Most Outstanding Player of the Year, OHL Most Scholastic
Player and OHL Playoff Most Valuable Player. He led the OHL in postseason
scoring as he put up 21 goals and 28 assists in 20 games during the 2015
playoffs.
He was also the OHL’s Most Sportsmanlike and Scholastic
Player in 2014 as well. In addition, he was the CHL’s Scholastic Player of the
Year too.
As a 15-year-old in 2012-2013, he became the third player to
be granted “Exceptional Player” status, allowing him to play at the major
junior level a year earlier than permissible. Only New York Islander captain,
John Tavares and Florida Panthers defenseman, Aaron Ekblad had been permitted
before him.
Eberle, Milan Lucic and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will serve as
the alternate captains for the Oilers.
Eberle, 26, is entering his seventh season with the Oilers. In 425 games, he has put up 145 goals and 185
assists. In four of his seven seasons, he has lit the lamp 20 or times,
including one with 30 or more.
The Regina, Saskatchewan native has represented Canada nine
times, winning the gold at the 2008 IIHF U-18 World Championship, 2009 IIFH World
Junior Championship and 2015 IIHF World Championship.
Lucic, 28, will begin his 10th season in the
league and first with the Oilers after signing as an unrestricted free agent
this summer. The Vancouver, British Columbia native has laced them up 647
times, while scoring 159 goals and 238 assists. In 101 Stanley Cup Playoff
games he has added, 26 goals and 38 assists.
He hoisted the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011.
During the 2007 Canada-Russia Junior Super Series, he captained Team Canada to
a series victory.
Nugent-Hopkins, 23, is entering his sixth season with the
Oilers. In 313 games he has scored 77 goals and 145 assists. The Burnaby,
British Columbia native has represented his country three times and skated for
Team North America during the 2016 World Cup, as he scored one goal and two
assists in three games.
Prior to McDavid now becoming the youngest captain in NHL
history, Gabriel Landeskog held the honor, who was 19 years and 286 days, when he
became captain of the Colorado Avalanche.
In 1984 though, Brian
Bellows was named an interim captain for the Minnesota North Stars, at the age
of 19 and 131 days, due to an injury to Craig Hartsburg.
Other Oilers captains include; Ron Chipperfield (1979-1980),
Blair MacDonald and Lee Fogolin (1980-1981), Fogolin (1981-1983), Wayne Gretzky
(1983-1988), Mark Messier (1988-1991), Kevin Lowe (1991-1992), Craig MacTavish
(1992-1994), Shayne Corson (1994-1995), Kelly Buchberger (1995-1999), Doug
Weight (1999-2001), Jason Smith (2001-2007), Ethan Moreau (2007-2010), Shawn
Horcoff (2010-2011) and Andrew Ference (2011-2015).
In his final game Ryan Smyth, was an honorary captain during
the 2013-2014 season.
YOUNGEST CAPTAINS IN NHL HISTORY
Connor McDavid 19 years, 266 days
Gabriel
Landeskog 19 years,
286 days
Sidney
Crosby 19 years, 297 days
Vincent
Lecavalier 19 years, 315 days
Jonathan
Toews 20 years, 80 days
Steve
Yzerman 21 years, 151 days
Jim
Schoenfeld 21 years, 362 days
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