Edmonton Oilers Name Connor McDavid youngest Captain in History
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
