What is Hits?

The number of times a player physically checks or collides with an opponent while trying to gain or maintain control of the puck.

What this tells us

When a player records a hit, he's engaging physically with the opponent—pushing him off the puck, separating him from a scoring chance, or wrestling for position. More hits can signal aggressive, physical play, but context matters: a defenseman who hits often is doing his job; a forward racking up hits while his team is getting outshot might be playing frustrated hockey. Hits alone don't tell you if a player is winning or losing those battles.

Limitations

Hits are recorded inconsistently across rinks and broadcasters—what counts as a hit in one arena might not in another, and officials have discretion. A player can record many hits and still lose puck battles, or generate few hits while controlling the game. Hits also don't distinguish between effective physical play and desperation; a forward throwing his body around while down 3-1 looks different from a defenseman controlling the blue line with timely contact. This is why we pair hits with possession and shot metrics to see the full picture.

Example

A physical fourth-line forward or shutdown defenseman might average 3–4 hits per 60 minutes of ice time. A playmaking center who controls the puck might average 1–2, not because he's soft, but because he doesn't need to dislodge opponents as often.