Barkov is a two-time Selke Trophy winner who has become known as one of the NHL's top two-way forwards

The Great One has had a front row seat to the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers.

Wayne Gretzky has been a regular on hockey broadcasts this season, offering insight and opinions from the greatest hockey player of all time.

Gretzky won four Stanley Cups during his career, all with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s.

Edmonton’s first Stanley Cup win was in 1984, a year after they lost in four games to the New York Islanders in what was the Oilers first appearance in the championship series.

During the loss in ’83, Gretzky was held to zero goals and four assists during the final. He had racked up 71 goals and 196 points during that regular season and another 12 goals and 22 assists during the playoffs before reaching the final.

Speaking on Sportsnet during Game 1 of this year’s Stanley Cup Final, Gretzky credited the defensive play of Brian Trottier with shutting him down during the ’83 Cup Final.

In the same breath, Gretzky gave Panthers captain Sasha Barkov, a now-two-time Sekle Trophy winner who’s been keeping a close eye on Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid, a massive compliment.

“I just said to my wife during the first period, ‘Number 16 is the best defensive hockey player I’ve seen since Brian Trottier,” Gretzky proclaimed. “I got Brian Trottier four games and what did I get? No goals. And what did we get? No cup.”

McDavid was held off the scoresheet in Game 1 but did get off six shots on goal. He saw a lot of Barkov during the game, too.

“Both of those guys are two great players,” Gretzky continued. “Connor has his work cut out against this young man.”

That young man was asked about Gretzky’s kind words during a media availability between Games 1 and 2.

For a moment, Barkov seemed to be at a loss for words.

“Wow,” Barkov said. “Coming from him especially, it means a lot. Everyone knows what he’s done to the game of hockey.”

Whether or not Barkov and the Panthers are able to continue holding McDavid and the high-flying Oilers’ offense at bay, it will be a matchup that hockey fans will be watching closely.

As for Barkov, like with most things, he took the compliment in stride.

He’s got something slightly more important to keep his focus on.

Still, it’s a nice little notch on the belt when you get recognition like that from a guy like Gretzky.

“When you hear people, especially like him, say stuff like that, it obviously means a lot coming from players or former players,” Barkov said. “I appreciate that.”

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