Let's cut to the chase. Don Cherry, wearing a Don Cherry-like suit, said Tuesday on Coach's Corner that Connor McDavid may already be the NHL's best player. Yes, the 19-year-old first overall pick in the 2015 draft may be the best player in the world's best league, says Cherry."Who's the best rookie in the league? What, are you kidding me?… Who's the rookie of the year? He is not the rookie of the year—maybe the best player in the National Hockey League."Bold, yes, but does he have a point?It's probably a stretch, considering McDavid has played only 45 career NHL games in a league that features superstars like Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. Not to mention other game-changing talents like Patrick Kane, John Tavares, Jamie Benn, Steven Stamkos, Erik Karlsson and so on and so on. But the fact that McDavid is even being thrown into that discussion, regardless of whose mouth it's coming out of, is a good reminder of how special he is. And is going to be.Regardless of where he slots in among the game's elite, it's clear McDavid is on the path to superstardom, and he was most definitely the best rookie in the NHL this season. Only two players (Kane and Benn) scored more points-per-game than McDavid's 1.07. He's the real deal. The McDavid hype, which was jammed down our throats for years, was certainly just. After breaking his collarbone, he produced arguably the goal of the year in his first game back earlier in the season. Expect more of this. Lots more.And he's kept it up at the world hockey championships in Russia, showing off his Gretzky-like skills, as the above Cherry video demonstrates. The kid is something else.I know this past decade has been tough, Oilers fans. But don't have sour grapes—be thankful your horrendous play has landed you a generational talent.[Sportsnet]Cover photo by Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
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