Ranking the Best Goals of the 2015-16 NHL Season So Far

The 2015-16 season has seen more than its share of fantastic goals from the best players on the planet, but this year, there are new entries and more competition for the highlight reels.

Famous snipers such as Alex Ovechkin and Patrick Kane are being joined by a new generation led by Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. From the sublime to the ridiculous, this season features brilliance from the league's best.

Here are the 10 best goals in the NHL so far this year.

10. Connor McDavid Has the Midas Touch

Date and Opponent: Wednesday, October 21, versus Detroit Red Wings

Goal: Connor McDavid

Assists: Benoit Pouliot and Nail Yakupov

They key to this goal is a nice pass from Benoit Pouliot to rookie phenom Connor McDavid, and the young center's impressive talents take over. McDavid had to work in order to stay onside while also running a small amount of interference. He then scored a pretty goal with a terrific deke.

This is a sign of things to come for NHL fans.

9. Jack Eichel and His Quick Hands

Date and Opponent: Monday, October 12, versus the Columbus Blue Jackets

Goal: Jack Eichel

Assists: Matt Moulson and Jamie McGinn

As individual efforts go, you are unlikely to see many better than this sequence by Jack Eichel. The Buffalo Sabres rookie skates in over the line and attempts a pass, which does not connect. The puck heads back toward the blue line and a Blue Jackets player, but Eichel will have none of it and retrieves the puck.

After all that effort, the key to the goal is a brilliant shot—absolutely a perfect snipe the goalie had no chance to stop.

8. Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl Are Dynamite Together

Date and Opponent: Friday, December 11, versus the New York Rangers

Goal: Taylor Hall

Assists: Leon Draisaitl and Teddy Purcell

On Glen Sather night in Alberta's capital city, two Edmonton Oilers youths—Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl—combined for a brilliant winning goal. Draisaitl used his soft touch to chip the puck past New York's defense and then quickly gained control. He sent a deft pass to Taylor Hall in the seconds after New York had scored to tie the game.

On a night when goals arrived by the dozen, the Hall tally was memorable.

7. Bobby Ryan Should Be Arrested for Pickpocketing

Date and Opponent: Monday, November 16, versus the Detroit Red Wings

Goal: Bobby Ryan

Assists: Mike Hoffman and Cody Ceci

Bobby Ryan of the Ottawa Senators turns a typical defensive-zone exchange into a goal against with outstanding anticipation and execution. Everything is under control until the last second, as Luke Glendening had his stick lifted by Ryan, who made quick work of Jimmy Howard in net to score.

The entire transaction took three seconds, all because of a split-second hesitation from Glendening.

6. Anze Kopitar Powers to Glory in the Desert

Date and Opponent: Saturday, December 26, at Arizona Coyotes 

Goal: Anze Kopitar

Assists: Tyler Toffoli and Drew Doughty 

Anze Kopitar is one of the strongest men in the NHL, and that strength was on display during this goal. Arizona forward Viktor Tikhonov is in trouble, as the 6'3", 224-pound Kopitar has a step on him. Because it is three-on-three overtime, there is no help coming.

The big Los Angeles Kings center passes Tikhonov like a house on the side of the road, and it is game over.

5. Alex Pietrangelo to Paul Stastny to Alex Steen, and It Is Over!

Date and Opponent: Tuesday, December 29, versus Nashville Predators 

Goal: Alex Steen

Assists: Paul Stastny and Alex Pietrangelo 

The St. Louis Blues have outstanding skill, and it was on full display against Nashville in late December.

With the game in overtime, Alex Pietrangelo recovers the puck deep in the St. Louis Blues zone. A quick tape-to-tape pass to Paul Stastny sets up a two-on-two at the Nashville Predators blue line. St. Louis forward Paul Stastny doesn't hesitate. He threads the needle to a flying Alex Steen, who finds daylight and sends a rocket past Carter Hutton in the Nashville net.

The Blues let the puck do the work, and precision passing won the day.

4. Alexander Ovechkin Being Alexander Ovechkin

Date and Opponent: Saturday, October 10, versus New Jersey Devils 

Goal: Alex Ovechkin

Assists: Matt Niskanen

Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals chose his first goal of the 2015-16 season to remind fans of his enormous talent.

Combining great speed and intimidation—defending against the big man in full flight can't be fun—the goal is close to perfect. The 6'3", 239-pounder drives into the zone and uses those ridiculous hands to scoot by the defenseman—just in time to place a perfect shot top shelf.

A breathtaking goal scored by one of the all-time best at the discipline.

3. Patrick Kane Extends Scoring Streak

Date and Opponent: Friday, December 11, versus the Winnipeg Jets

Goal: Patrick Kane

Assists: Teuvo Teravainen and David Rundblad

The Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane extended his point-scoring streak to 25 games with a brilliant tally against the Jets. As good as the give-and-go with Teuvo Teravainen was, the finish was all-world, as Kane went short side for the marker.

A defensive unit can hang with elite offensive talent through two outstanding passes, but the sniper is just too good on this play. Kane is the most dangerous player in the NHL this season.

2. Evgeni Malkin Silent Running

Date and Opponent: Saturday, November 28, versus the Edmonton Oilers

Goal: Evgeni Malkin

Assists: None

The brilliance in this goal comes from the 6'3", 195-pound Evgeni Malkin's ability to sneak up on Oilers defender Oscar Klefbom. The big Pittsburgh Penguins center overtook Klefbom without warning, stole the puck, turned on his heels and drove toward the Edmonton net.

Malkin pulled a spin-o-rama deke on defender Mark Fayne and then sent a brilliant backhand shelf. It took only six seconds.

1. Alexander Ovechkin: There Are No Words

Date and Opponent: Saturday, January 9, at New York Rangers 

Goal: Alexander Ovechkin

Assists: Nate Schmidt

Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals routinely scores goals with a high degree of difficulty—so you know it takes a lot to impress fans who have seen his game. His goal in early January on a Saturday night at Madison Square Garden has to rank as one of his best.

After a great chance for New York, Ovechkin grabbed the puck and set sail for the other end. The combination of speed, power and determination was breathtaking, and his shot found the net to end a thriller. He flew by one defender, stepped past another and sent a bullet into the heart of the net. It was No. 499 for his career.