MCDAVID CAPTAIN OF NORTH AMERICAN TEAM?

It was after Todd McLellan had called Connor McDavid a “tremendous player and an even more tremendous person” that the Edmonton Oilers head coach was asked if the 19-year-old was in line to become the next captain. “The captain of the Oilers? We’ll figure that out at training camp,” said McLellan. “The captain at the World Cup? We’ll find out this week.” The answer could end up being the same for both. McDavid might be one of the less experienced players at the World Cup of Hockey, but on a North American team of youngsters, his age isn’t as big of a deal. Everyone on the under-24 team is young. It is why leadership could become a challenge in the best-on-best tournament. And it is also why McLellan hasn’t named a captain yet. “A number of these players have played in international events, but most of them have been very young components on those teams, at least at the pro level,” said McLellan. “So when I look at the other teams, they have what I’d call the ‘Godfathers’ (of the program). “We’re looking for our godfathers to emerge. It’s one of the reasons why you haven’t seen us name a captain (yet). We’ll spend some time with the group and come together and identify our leadership group.” Unlike Canada, where seven players are captains of their respective NHL teams and another two have previously been their team’s captain, the North American team does not have the same level of leaders — although there is potential. Edmonton’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele both alternate captains, while a player like Brandon Saad has played four years in the league and won a Stanley Cup championship. “There’s a lot of guys that have played a lot of games and are experienced pros,” said McLellan. “It’s about how they carry themselves around the team and if they bring the best out of people and hold themselves and others accountable. “We’ll look at that during the camp phase and try to pick our leadership group as quick as possible.”