This is fine with me. I had it down to Gagner or Ference.
I like this choice over Gagner (or Hall, since he was a candidate too) because this team needs to complete the culture change from the losing days. We've got a very different roster already, so what else to do but bring in a new captain from a different team, who has experience with winning, rather than give it to someone who was here and 'got used to' the whole losing thing.
Ference seems to be VERY receptive to Eakins' fitness regime and immediately, Ference was front and centre with what Eakins brings. I'd say it is good to have the captain follow the coach closely, so he fits right in.
Also, seeing all of the community work and appearances Ference has made already, just off of the Oilers Facebook page, it seems like he would be a good choice as the leader of the team. If he can motivate our young guys to have interest in doing community work, it would do a ton of good for the image of the team and would probably help mature them a bit too.
Once Ference is gone, it will pretty much flow right down to Taylor Hall, but as of right now he is ultimately too young and inexperienced. And since we can all tell that Hall is the heart and drive of the team, one can only assume that the rest of the players pick up on that and will follow his example.