Oilers: The Top Five Longest Tenured Captains In Team History
By Jim Lynch
4. Kelly Buchberger 1995-1999
Kelly Buchberger’s path to the NHL is rather interesting. After getting drafted in the ninth round in 1985 he made his NHL debut two seasons later in the 1987 Stanley Cup Final no pressure right?
Buchberger was a member of two Stanley Cup Champion teams in 1987 and 1990 before becoming captain of the team in 1995. He was a gritty player who captained the team for 297 games. That number could have been bigger if he was not taken during the expansion draft by the Atlanta Thrashers in the summer of 1999.
3. Connor McDavid 2016 – Present Day
Connor McDavid will be moving up this list this coming season. Arguably the most skilled NHL player ever, McDavid has been the captain for 362 games in Edmonton. His teams might not have had a lot of success, but he definitely has having won two Hart Memorial Trophies, and three Art Ross Trophies, and Ted Lindsay Awards.
During his time as captain, the Oilers have not had as much success as a team as McDavid probably would have hoped. But seeing that he will be the captain for the next handful of seasons, that can definitely change. McDavid has worn the C on his jersey for 362 games, and it definitely going to be staying there for a while.