A member of the New Jersey Devils ranks 25th in the NHL in goals scored since the start of the 2015-16 season.

It’s not Taylor Hall. 

No, it’s perhaps one of the least talked about high-end goal scorers in the NHL, Kyle Palmieri. Over the last 4 seasons, the 27-year old has scored more goals in fewer games than teammate, and reigning Hart trophy winner, Hall and recent Hart trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon. Bet you didn’t know that!

Palmieri started his career with the Anaheim Ducks, posting 43 goals in 198 games over 5 seasons. He was sent to the Devils for 2nd and 3rd round picks in the summer of 2015 and has been ripping it up ever since. Palmieri’s 88 goals in 232 games are thanks to a terrific release and a willingness to go to the front of the net. 

Palmieri’s shooting percentage over the last 3 full seasons has remained remarkably consistent. 13.5% in 2015-16, 13.5% in 2016-17 and 13.3% in 2017-18. With 8 goals on 26 shots this season, Palmieri is due for a market correction before long in terms of his shooting percentage but there’s no reason to believe he can’t surpass his career-high in goals which sits at 30. 

As impressive as Palmieri’s goal totals have been over the last 4 seasons, when you look at the rate he’s scoring at since the start of last season, you’ll see he’s in some pretty elite company. Palmieri’s 32 goals in 70 games since the start of last season puts him at 0.46 goals per game, tied with Filip Forsberg and Brand Marchand for the 16th best rate in the league.

You don’t hear a lot about Kyle Palmieri outside of New Jersey but his body of work since joining the Devils deserves to be recognized. 

(Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images)