NHL analyst under fire for Connor McDavid captaincy criticism

An opinion column criticizing Connor McDavid as captain of the Edmonton Oilers has led to immediate backlash across the NHL world this week.

In a column for the Edmonton Journal, writer Gerry Moddejonge used the headline, “McDavid is everything to the Edmonton Oilers … except a good captain.”

Later in the piece, Moddejonge added, “You can’t say enough about all that he is and what he offers. But there is one thing he isn’t and never should have been, and that’s the captain of the Edmonton Oilers hockey club. In fact, of the 15 captains in franchise history, he might be the worst choice of them all.”

MORE: ESPN shares NHL star rankings with surprising Connor McDavid landing spot

Later, he appeared on Edmonton Sports Talk to share his views.

There, the reaction from fans on X was swift and harsh.

One fan wrote, “Yup, he’s the only one out there questioning McDavid’s leadership! Not sure why he’s given any airtime!”

Another added, “He talks like he has a pile of rocks floating around where his brain should be.”

A third fan reacted, “He has no business making up this bullshit. What a loser.”

One fan mentioned, “Yeah, as long as you have this idiot on 1440, I won’t be listening anymore, now be following this page. How can you let this guy even talk about hockey when he doesn’t know wtf he’s talking about in the first place?”

“This guy is an idiot; there’s a reason why no one’s heard of him. Why even give him a platform to spew this nonsense? Embarrassing,” A fan wrote.

A fan referenced the 2026 IIHF Worlds, where Macklin Celebrini is wearing the ‘C’ despite Sidney Crosby’s presence, writing, “Like the C matters. Celebrini is wearing the C over Crosby.”

The criticism reflects how strongly McDavid is viewed around the league, not only as the NHL’s best player but also as the central figure keeping Edmonton competitive during another flawed season.

MORE: Connor McDavid sends clear message on Oilers future amid rumors

Oilers’ problems ran far deeper than Connor McDavid’s leadership

Blaming McDavid for Edmonton’s collapse ignores the larger structural problems that defined the Oilers’ season.

The Oilers exited in the first round against the younger Anaheim Ducks despite McDavid winning another Art Ross Trophy with 138 points. He also played a stronger defensive game while Leon Draisaitl battled injuries for much of the year. At times, he was single-handedly winning games for the Oilers and had three hat trick goal games this season.

The bigger issue was roster construction.

Edmonton finished among the league leaders in giveaways and struggled defensively all season. Their bottom-six forwards provided little secondary scoring, while inconsistent goaltending repeatedly erased strong offensive performances. The team also lacked salary-cap flexibility because so much money remains tied to a few core contracts.

Even in the playoffs, McDavid and Draisaitl were playing through injuries while carrying the offense almost alone.

Leadership criticism often surfaces when elite teams fail, especially with star players. But inside NHL circles, leadership is usually tied to accountability, preparation, and performance. McDavid checks every box there.

MORE: NHL analyst blasted over Connor McDavid is ‘gone’ prediction

With McDavid entering his new two-year $25 million contract, Edmonton now faces real pressure. The franchise must prove it can build a deeper, more stable contender around the best player of his generation.