Sidney Crosby on expectations surrounding Connor McDavid

TORONTO – If anyone knows what Connor McDavid has been through and is about to experience during his first NHL season it’s Sidney Crosby.

When talking about the amount of hype thrown McDavid’s way you have to go back to 2005 when the Pittsburgh Penguins captain was handed the label as “The Next One.” A decade ago, social media wasn’t where its at today, so you can argue that in a way the Edmonton Oilers’ no. 1 pick from last June is under a bigger microscope than the one Crosby was under as the league came out of a lockout.

The expectations will be high for McDavid to be the centerpiece of an Oilers turnaround. Crosby helped get the Penguins to end a four-year playoff drought in his second NHL season, and in his fourth year they won the Stanley Cup. Progress at this point for Edmonton would be not having one of the highest percentages in the draft lottery next April.

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So with the hype will come expectations for McDavid, something Crosby believes the young phenom will be able to handle.

“[H]ow many 18 year olds have his ability?,” Crosby said during NHL Players Media Day in Toronto. “I’m sure they’re high, as they should be, but for him you just have to enjoy the process and make sure he doesn’t get too caught up in that.

“He’s pretty levelheaded. I think he’s got things figured out pretty early on. I understand that the expectations are high but he looks like a guy who’s going to be able to live with them as well.”

Pittsburgh became a hockey market power after Crosby’s arrival. After nearly a decade with no playoffs, the hunger has been growing there in Edmonton with each and every lottery pick. McDavid is expected to be the savior of a franchise stuck in mud. He’ll be protected in every way imaginable so the focus remains on his play.

McDavid has already done more media obligations than some players do their entire careers. Being pulled in numerous directions, from media to sponsors to team/league marketing, can be a lot for any player to deal with. And as Crosby has experience, a strong support staff will help the young Oilers forward reach those high expectations.

“[H]e has some really good people around him in the organization and players that have played in the league long enough, but they’re not guys who are that much older that they cannot relate to the things he’ll go through,” Crosby said.

“There’s really a good balance of everything there for him.” 

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy

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