Ranking the Top Young Snipers in the NHL in 2015-16

The NHL has a large number of quality scorers under 25 who are emerging as the next generation of elite snipers. The established impact players are between 25 and 30, and we're seeing the younger set take over this year.

Fans recognize most of the top snipers, but the top 25 scorers in the NHL so far include some fantastic young marksmen, who are about to impose their will over the next five years and beyond.

Here are the top 10 scorers under 25 in the NHL at this time. Rankings based on goals per game for players 24 or younger over the length of their career. 

10. Jaden Schwartz, C, St. Louis Blues

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Scoring This Season: Jaden Schwartz has not yet scored for the St. Louis Blues this season. He suffered a significant ankle injury in October, as described on the team website. 

Is He an Established Scorer? Schwartz is too young to be described as established, but in the last two seasons posted 25 and 28 goals—well on his way to becoming a reliable offensive weapon.

Why Is He Ranked Here? He is a promising young forward and is tied for No. 8 among 24-and-under NHL players in goals per game. He scored 20 even-strength goals in the NHL at age 22, an impressive total for any player.

9. Brendan Gallagher, RW, Montreal Canadiens

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Scoring This Season: Brendan Gallagher has nine goals for the Montreal Canadiens this season. 

Is He an Established Scorer? Gallagher is a surprising name on this list, but his progression since his rookie season—15, 19 and then 24 goals last year—shows he's heading in a good direction. He has not set an established level of ability.

Why Is He Ranked Here? His scoring rates continue to climb and at this point Gallagher is in a tie for No. 8 among 24-and-under players in goals per game. That's a substantial accomplishment for a player who was chosen No. 147 overall in the 2010 entry draft. 

8. Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado Avalanche

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Scoring This Season: Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche has scored seven goals so far this season. 

Is He an Established Scorer? Landeskog has shown himself to be a consistent offensive player, scoring over 20 goals in three of his first four NHL seasons. There's still time for him to find an extra offensive gear, but so far he looks like a solid 20-goal man.

Why Is He Ranked Here? He ranks in a tie for No. 8 among players under 25 in goals per game. Among his 87 career goals are 21 on the power play, suggesting a lot of his offensive output comes at even strength. Those five-on-five goals will be important for him if he's to remain among the top scorers of his generation.

7. Evander Kane, LW, Buffalo Sabres

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Scoring This Season: Evander Kane has two goals this season for the Buffalo Sabres. Part of the reason for the low goal total is injury, as this article from Joe Yerdon of NHL.com explains. 

Is He an Established Scorer? This is Kane's seventh NHL season, and he has reached the 30-goal plateau once. In other seasons, he's finished with fewer than 20. Kane can score but injuries have impacted his career, especially in recent seasons. In the two most recent full campaigns, he has missed 64 games.

Why Is He Ranked Here? Kane sits a tie for No. 6 in goals per game, but the issue for him is being healthy enough to stay in the lineup. Among players under 25, his scoring over six-plus seasons is enough to get him on this list. Injuries are robbing Evander Kane of a very good NHL career.

6. Matt Duchene, C, Colorado Avalanche

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Scoring This Season: Matt Duchene of the Colorado Avalanche has scored 12 goals this year and ranks in a tie for No. 5 overall. 

Is He an Established Scorer? Duchene's career resume tells us he is more of a playmaker than scorer, but he has posted four seasons of 20 or more goals in six previous campaigns.

Why Is He Ranked Here? He ranks in a tie for No. 6 among young stars in goals per game so far in his career. Duchene has more range than a pure sniper, but part of his skill set includes scoring goals at a rapid rate.

5. Sean Monahan, C, Calgary Flames

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Scoring This Season: Sean Monahan of the Calgary Flames has seven goals so far this season—six of them at even strength. 

Is He an Established Scorer? His first two seasons were very productive—22 and then 34 goals—but his current pace suggests he'll finish shy of 30 this year. We don't have Monahan sussed out as a scorer, but there are things to like about him.

Why Is He Ranked Here? The big second season has him in a tie for No. 4 overall, and there are reasons to believe he is going to be one of the best offensive players of his generation. The current total is slightly worrying, but he's an excellent bet to have a terrific future. 

4. Jeff Skinner, LW, Carolina Hurricanes

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Scoring This Season: Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes has scored five goals this season, including two in his most recent five games. 

Is He an Established Scorer? Skinner is a wildly inconsistent scorer. He posted 30 or more goals twice in his first four seasons but has slumped due to injuries in other years.

Why Is He Ranked Here? He still ranks high—a tie for No. 4 overall—in goals per game among players who are in this age range. His wild range of scoring seasons make him almost impossible to project, and for that reason he is likely to fall away from the top scorers of his generation.

3. Taylor Hall, LW, Edmonton Oilers

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Scoring This Season: Taylor Hall has scored nine goals for the Edmonton Oilers this season. 

Is He an Established Scorer? Since arriving in the NHL, Hall has scored over 20 goals three times and popped 16 in the shortened 2012-13 season. The only year he missed scoring 20 was 2014-15, when he was reduced to 53 games due to injury.

Why Is He Ranked Here? Hall ranks No. 3 in goals per game among players 24 and under in the NHL currently. Although he has turned himself into more of a playmaker in the NHL, it's clear Hall's goal-scoring ability is outstanding.

2. Tyler Seguin, C, Dallas Stars

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Scoring This Season: Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars is No. 4 in scoring this year. He has 13 goals in 24 games. 

Is He an Established Scorer? Seguin is an outstanding scorer and he's consistent. In the last two seasons, he's scored exactly 37 goals each time for Dallas.

Why Is He Ranked Here? He ranks No. 2 on the list of 24-and-younger snipers in goal per game. His progress is exceptional. Example: A year ago Seguin finished just outside the top 10 overall with 24 even-strength goals. This year he has 10 goals already and is tied for No. 1 in the category. There's no doubt he's emerging as one of the best scorers of his generation. 

1. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, St. Louis Blues

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Scoring This Season: Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues ranks in a tie for No. 2 overall in scoring with 14 goals in 2015-16.

Is He an Established Scorer? We're still finding the range in regard to this player, but he's a promising scorer. Last season was Tarasenko's breakout season, as he popped 37 goals and ranked in the top five in scoring. He scored 22 goals in 2013-14, his first full season.

Why Is He Ranked Here? Tarasenko is No. 1 in goals per game among players who are young enough to qualify for this ranking. He has 10 even-strength goals so far this season, tied for No. 1 in the entire NHL. He is a spectacular young sniper with an incredible future.