Gretzky: McDavid would handle Oilers captaincy 'with flying colors'

Wayne Gretzky has no doubt who he'd pick.

The Edmonton Oilers legend addressed the club's vacant captaincy at the grand opening of Rogers Place on Thursday night, and he believes Connor McDavid is more than ready for the responsibility.

"I don't think it'll affect him. He's mature as a 19- or 20-year-old," Gretzky said, writes the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson.

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With the coaching staff currently in place in Edmonton and veterans like Matt Hendricks and Milan Lucic on the roster, Gretzky believes McDavid will have the support he needs to shoulder the responsibility that comes with the "C."

"If they give it to him now, he'll handle it with flying colors," Gretzky said.

McDavid will be captain of the Oilers one day, Gretzky added, saying the fact was "probably the worst-kept secret in the NHL." Should it happen for the coming season, Gretzky believes McDavid's teammates "will rally around him."

The teenager was named captain of Team North America - coached by Edmonton's Todd McLellan - on Thursday evening. One captaincy down, one more to go.