After the pair of first overall picks spent time working out together this summer, John Tavares of the New York Islanders came away impressed with Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon.

"[MacKinnon's] gone from boy to man," said Tavares, picked No. 1 in 2009, according to Gare Joyce of Sportsnet magazine. "[His] first step [is] even more explosive now."

Scary thought for someone whose first career playoff goal - scored at age 18 - looked like this:

MacKinnon, the NHL's top draft pick in 2013, scored 24 goals and added 39 assists in 82 games as a rookie, taking home the Calder Trophy at the end of the season.

While his speed is indeed a great strength, Joyce contends the second-year player could benefit from having improved in other areas as well.

@Mackinnon9 as maybe the most improved this yr? Not far-fetched. Word from Andy O'Brien summer camp: NMac is significantly bigger, stronger. — Gare Joyce (@GareJoyceNHL) September 3, 2014

Add it all up, and MacKinnon appears to have all the makings of a special player who could rise to stardom even quicker than most anticipated.

[H/T Pro Hockey Talk]