Wayne Gretzky: This “sleeper” team will win the Stanley Cup!

He's the greatest player in National Hockey League history, having won the Stanley Cup four times while playing with the Edmonton Oilers before being dealt in a shocking trade to the Los Angeles Kings that helped spur a massive growth of the game in the non-traditional market.

He would later briefly suit up for the St. Louis Blues before finishing his career by playing three seasons with the New York Rangers.

With the Stanley Cup Playoffs in full swing, Wayne Gretzky himself has sounded off on whom he believes will be the last team standing when it is all said and done later this summer.

"I think Carolina is a sleeper team, and I think they're destined to get to the Stanley Cup Finals this year," he said.

Of course, Carolina won the Metropolitan Division with their best record since their championship season of 2005-06, and it would be an ideal way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Cinderella-esque run they made to the Finals in 2002. Gretzky stated his belief that it will be Carolina triumphing over the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. 

Meanwhile in the west, he picked a former team of his in the St. Louis Blues to be facing the Calgary Flames in the Western Conference Finals, with the Blues advancing. 

"St. Louis vs. Calgary is an interesting matchup, because I think both teams were built for the Stanley Cup Playoffs," he said. "I like St. Louis because I like their metal with O'Reilly and Brayen Schenn, I'm picking them for the Stanley Cup Finals." 

However, Gretzky believes that it will be Carolina hoisting the Stanley Cup for the second time in their history. 

"My pick to win the Stanley Cup this year is the Carolina Hurricanes," he said. "It's going to be fast, far hitting tremendous hockey with both teams leaving everything out on the ice. So I challenge you to beat my bracket!"