Captain McDavid?
TORONTO — Taylor Hall said he has not been back to Edmonton since being traded to the New Jersey Devils on June 29. But the 24-year-old, who was drafted firstoverall by the Oilers in 2010 and spent six years playing for the organization, is still “rooting for” certain players on his former team.
One of those players is Connor McDavid, whom Hall believes should be the team’s next captain.
“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.”
Andrew Ference was the Oilers’ captain from 2013 to 2015, but the team went without a captain last season.
There has been much debate as to whether McDavid is ready for the responsibility that comes with being a captain. After all, he is only 19 years old. And he has played in half a season.
But after a scoring more than a point per game as a rookie, with 16 goals and 48 points in 45 games, it looks like the youngster is about to become one of the league’s top stars — if he is not already. Even Wayne Gretzky, who was named Edmonton’s captain when he was 22, told Postmedia News in February that McDavid deserves the ‘C’.
“I have a great deal of respect for him. In my point of view, I think he’s mature enough that he can handle it at any age,” said Gretzky. “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.”
Hall, who lived with McDavid last season, echoed that sentiment.
“I don’t know if Connor is ready. He very well could be,” said Hall. “But he’s going to be a great captain, whether it’s this year or whenever it might be. I was lucky to play with him and spend some time with him and he’s one of those guys that I’m always rooting for.”