Is McDavid a poor captain?

[nowhereman]

Good argument. Nothing backs this up other than some made up narrative. McDavid already has more shorthanded points in like 10 less years to boot.

A narrative made up by Scotty Bowman, Ken Hitchcock, Mike Babcock, Mike Sullivan, his teammates, the rest of the league, analysts, fans and McDavid himself.

But go on.

 

[LuGBuG]

Ridiculous question and I’m an Oilers hater

 

[T REX]

All I can say is that I could never see McDavid leading a trashy cheer yelling to F someone else.

Maybe he doesn't have that killer instinct that a Cpt needs...the hate your opponent component...don't know

He's so much better than everyone else...so maybe he is a poor choice for CPT

IDK

 

[Fatass]

Imo a good captain is one who’s teammates will go through a wall for to help win. They will sacrifice both on and off the ice. They train harder. They play harder. He leads them. The Oilers’ players do that for McDavid. Many posters (and others) have stated the Oilers are a lot of average players and McDavid and Draisatl. Those average players got to two Cup Finals in a row. That’s some average players giving all they have. And that is the definition of a good captain.

 

[Gravity]

Stupidest poll on HF. Some of y'all must not know anything about hockey Jesus. Guy won the Conn Smythe on the losing team last year. He is not part of the problem in Edmonton.

 

[Asinine]

All he cares about is points and his legacy. He only wants a cup for his own legacy not because he has a fire burning in him to win. His rant in the dressing room during the finals last year sounded like a spoiled rich kid not getting what he wanted for the first time ever.

 

[Czechboy]

This guy sucks. No way he should make the Olympic team. He'll ruin Canada's chances at winning. Stupid loser.

Signed by the entire Czech hockey team who just happens to be Canada's first opponent in the best on best 2026 Olympics!

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Merely noting that this exact thread came up about five years ago.

Would suggest that whether McDavid is a good captain isn't the right question, but it is whether McDavid is a good leader, which isn't exactly the same.

As was related repeatedly in the earlier thread, the problem with this inquiry is that the only persons who could really answer this question are his current or former teammates, and they are not participants in these HF discussions. Nobody but them knows what goes on during practices, in the locker room, the in-game chatter, or what is said or not said at the steakhouse after the game.

About the only thing that can reasonably be discussed is whether McDavid's efforts towards leadership manifests itself on the ice. Otherwise stated, does it seem or not seem that McDavid motivates his teammates to elevate their on-ice play, other than the raw application of his own natural talents? But even that seems pretty speculative one way or the other.

Perhaps a more worthwhile discussion is how McDavid compares in this regard to Matthew Tkachuk who is obviously a leader (if Matthew Tkachuk isn't a leader then that term has no meaning with the NHL).

 

[Fatass]

Merely noting that this exact thread came up about five years ago.

Would suggest that whether McDavid is a good captain isn't the right question, but it is whether McDavid is a good leader, which isn't exactly the same.

As was related repeatedly in the earlier thread, the problem with this inquiry is that the only persons who could really answer this question are his current or former teammates, and they are not participants in these HF discussions. Nobody but them knows what goes on during practices, in the locker room, the in-game chatter, or what is said or not said at the steakhouse after the game.

About the only thing that can reasonably be discussed is whether McDavid's efforts towards leadership manifests itself on the ice. Otherwise stated, does it seem or not seem that McDavid motivates his teammates to elevate their on-ice play, other than the raw application of his own natural talents? But even that seems pretty speculative one way or the other.

Perhaps a more worthwhile discussion is how McDavid compares in this regard to Matthew Tkachuk who is obviously a leader (if Matthew Tkachuk isn't a leader then that term has no meaning with the NHL).

Clearly McDavid motivates his teammates. Are the Oilers full of great players or are they McDavid + Draisatle and a whole lot of average guys? Imo McDavid sure does a damn good job of motivating those average guys to be a lot better than they actually are.

 

[pld459666]

Only so much he can do.

Even the very best need scoring from bottom 6

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Clearly McDavid motivates his teammates. Are the Oilers full of great players or are they McDavid + Draisatle and a whole lot of average guys? Imo McDavid sure does a damn good job of motivating those average guys to be a lot better than they actually are.

Agree. It would tax reality to suggest that a team which got to the SCF two years in a row suffered from poor leadership. The question then becomes how McDavid's leadership should be rated, but that is both highly speculative and highly subjective.

So, topic exhausted already, close the thread.