Wayne Gretzky Calls Connor McDavid Greatest 19-Year-Old Player He's Ever Seen

NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky praised Edmonton Oilers second-year star Connor McDavid during an interview with the Canadian Press (via Sportsnet) on Monday, suggesting the youngster is further along in his development than some of the legends of the game were at the same age.

"I don't think there's any question that Connor's the best 19-year-old hockey player I've ever seen, and I saw (Mark) Messier. I saw (Mario) Lemieux. I saw (Guy) Lafleur," Gretzky said. "This kid is special."

Gretzky's even joked that, at 55 years old, he could still thrive with McDavid, saying he could score 60 goals alongside him.

Gretzky finished his NHL career as the all-time leader in points (2,857), goals (894) and assists (1,963), among his other countless accomplishments, and many consider him to be the greatest hockey player of all time.

His opinion on such matters carries serious weight, and while he believes Sidney Crosby is the best player in the NHL, he feels McDavid's potential is unlimited, per the Canadian Press:

"

(Is McDavid) on the right track? Absolutely. And has he got an opportunity to do some real special things? One hundred per cent. Has he got his head screwed on properly? One hundred per cent. He's in the right organization (and) the city will take care of him. It's a wonderful city for him to play in. Tremendous ownership. Great coaching.

Now, it's going to take time. He's still only 19. But he has everything in place to become the best player in the National Hockey League and go on to win some championships for the Edmonton Oilers.

"

Why such high praise?

Well, over the first 48 games of his career, McDavid has posted 19 goals and 35 assists. Over a full 82-game season, that translates to 31 goals and 59 assists. In 2015-16, that would have placed him second in points behind only Patrick Kane (106) and fourth in assists behind Erik Karlsson (66), Joe Thornton (63) and Kane (60).

McDavid's six points to start the 2016-17 season are tied for first in the NHL with St. Louis Blues center Paul Stastny and Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand.

Gretzky isn't the only hockey legend praising McDavid, as Adrian Dater of Bleacher Report noted:

Gretzky concurred with that assessment, saying McDavid has an "extra gear" he's never seen in a hockey player.

Nonetheless, he had a message for the burgeoning superstar: "Winning a Stanley Cup is important, and you should never lose sight of that fact."

But Gretzky thinks he's up to the task and will be able to follow in Crosby's footsteps, from competing for the Stanley Cup to captaining the Olympic team.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.