Connor McDavid
The incredible talent Connor McDavid displayed in his abbreviated NHL rookie season of 2015-16 was obvious even to the casual hockey observer. What impressed people equally was his maturity and leadership. For those that know McDavid, that wasn’t surprising. In his previous three seasons before his rookie campaign, he earned every award imaginable while with the Erie Otters of the OHL.
Among his list of accomplishments was winning trophies for Rookie of the Year, Most Sportsmanlike Player, Scholastic Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player. He lit up the scoreboard at that level and did the same thing with the Oilers, scoring 48 points in 45 games as a rookie.
The season in which Connor McDavid was named captain of the Edmonton Oilers® they made their return to the NHL® playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Oilers® were proud to open their new arena as well in the 2016-17 season, named Rogers Place. It replaced the Rexall Place, initially Northlands Coliseum, which opened in 1974.
The new state-of-the-art facility officially opened on September 8, 2016 and sees sell-out crowds of over 18,000 when the Oilers® play. McDavid was also the first person to officially skate at the Oilers’® new downtown arena when he led a group of teammates and local minor players on the ice for the opening skate.
