Counting stats
NHL Hits Leaders: Defensemen
2026-27All situationsThrough 3 team games
This board ranks defensemen only by hits.
Hits are body checks credited by the off-ice scorer. Physical third-liners and stay-at-home defensemen lead the league, often while their team spends long stretches without the puck. In leagues that split positions, use it to fill your defense slots, and check the per-60 board for defensemen getting more out of fewer minutes.
Leader in 2026-27: Nikita Zadorov (BOS), 13 HIT.
- Early sample: teams have played at most 3 games in 2026-27. Expect big swings.
Hits: defense leaderboard
Show
| # | Player | Team | HIT | GP | Per game | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikita ZadorovDBOS | BOS | 13 | 3 | 4.33 | 39%▲21 |
| 2 | MacKenzie WeegarDUTA | UTA | 9 | 2 | 4.50 | 93%▼7.2 |
| 3 | Will BorgenDBOS | BOS | 8 | 3 | 2.67 | 4.1%▲3.8 |
| 4 | Braden SchneiderDNYR | NYR | 8 | 3 | 2.67 | 20%▲18 |
| 5 | Erik CernakDTBL | TBL | 8 | 2 | 4.00 | 4.1%▲3.7 |
| 6 | Lian BichselDDAL | DAL | 8 | 2 | 4.00 | 22%▲21 |
| 7 | Luke SchennDVAN | VAN | 7 | 3 | 2.33 | 7.3%▲6.9 |
| 8 | Jamie OleksiakDVAN | VAN | 7 | 3 | 2.33 | 7.1%▲6.9 |
| 9 | Radko GudasDFLA | FLA | 7 | 2 | 3.50 | 25%▲22 |
| 10 | Logan StanleyDNYI | NYI | 7 | 2 | 3.50 | 6.6%▲5.9 |
| 11 | Vincent DesharnaisDWSH | WSH | 7 | 2 | 3.50 | 0.3% |
| 12 | Rasmus DahlinDBUF | BUF | 6 | 2 | 3.00 | 100%▲1 |
| 13 | Connor CliftonDBOS | BOS | 5 | 3 | 1.67 | 7.4%▲6.7 |
| 14 | Sean WalkerDCAR | CAR | 5 | 3 | 1.67 | 61%▼11 |
| 15 | Alberts SmitsDNYR | NYR | 5 | 3 | 1.67 | 35%▲34 |
| 16 | Ben ChiarotDDET | DET | 5 | 2 | 2.50 | 13%▲11 |
| 17 | Adam LarssonDSEA | SEA | 5 | 2 | 2.50 | 23%▼19 |
| 18 | Jacob TroubaDSJS | SJS | 5 | 2 | 2.50 | 76%▼11 |
| 19 | Carson SoucyDCBJ | CBJ | 5 | 2 | 2.50 | 0.1% |
| 20 | Brandon MontourDSEA | SEA | 5 | 2 | 2.50 | 83%▲10 |
| 21 | Matt RoyDWSH | WSH | 5 | 2 | 2.50 | 9.0%▲8.3 |
| 22 | Tyrel BauerDWPG | WPG | 5 | 2 | 2.50 | — |
| 23 | Mattias EkholmDEDM | EDM | 4 | 3 | 1.33 | 77%▲9.5 |
| 24 | Rasmus RistolainenDPHI | PHI | 4 | 3 | 1.33 | 8.3%▲7.7 |
| 25 | K'Andre MillerDCAR | CAR | 4 | 3 | 1.33 | 64%▲26 |
| 26 | Jonathan AspirotDBOS | BOS | 4 | 3 | 1.33 | 4.8%▲4.6 |
| 27 | Cam YorkDPHI | PHI | 4 | 3 | 1.33 | 20%▲18 |
| 28 | Elias PetterssonDVAN | VAN | 4 | 3 | 1.33 | 14%▲13 |
| 29 | Josh MansonDCOL | COL | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 32%▲16 |
| 30 | Darnell NurseDSJS | SJS | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 69%▼13 |
| 31 | Jake MiddletonDCGY | CGY | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 5.7%▲5.3 |
| 32 | Brandon CarloDSTL | STL | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 0.3% |
| 33 | Noah JuulsenDCOL | COL | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 0.1% |
| 34 | Jeremy LauzonDVGK | VGK | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 24%▲22 |
| 35 | Mario FerraroDWPG | WPG | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 15%▼2.1 |
| 36 | Alexander RomanovDNYI | NYI | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 15%▲15 |
| 37 | Simon BenoitDPHI | PHI | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 4.9%▲4.4 |
| 38 | Jayden StrubleDMTL | MTL | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 3.3%▲2.9 |
| 39 | Oliver Ekman-LarssonDTOR | TOR | 3 | 3 | 1.00 | 43%▲32 |
| 40 | Nick SeelerDPHI | PHI | 3 | 3 | 1.00 | 8.1%▲7.6 |
| 41 | Jake McCabeDTOR | TOR | 3 | 3 | 1.00 | 34%▼15 |
| 42 | Ryan SheaDEDM | EDM | 3 | 3 | 1.00 | 16%▲11 |
| 43 | Vladislav GavrikovDNYR | NYR | 3 | 3 | 1.00 | 41%▼5.9 |
| 44 | Filip HronekDVAN | VAN | 3 | 3 | 1.00 | 91%▲14 |
| 45 | Evan BouchardDEDM | EDM | 3 | 3 | 1.00 | 100% |
| 46 | Tyler MyersDDAL | DAL | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 4.1%▲3.7 |
| 47 | Brenden DillonDNJD | NJD | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 9.7%▲9.1 |
| 48 | Justin FaulkDDET | DET | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 55%▼22 |
| 49 | Erik GudbransonDCBJ | CBJ | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 0.1% |
| 50 | Dougie HamiltonDNJD | NJD | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 84%▲12 |
| 51 | Colton ParaykoDSTL | STL | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 37%▼42 |
| 52 | Esa LindellDDAL | DAL | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 37%▼31 |
| 53 | Adam PelechDNYI | NYI | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 3.2%▲3 |
| 54 | Vince DunnDSEA | SEA | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 89%▲12 |
| 55 | Mikhail SergachevDUTA | UTA | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 98%▲5.2 |
| 56 | Nicolas HagueDNSH | NSH | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 0.1% |
| 57 | Neal PionkDWPG | WPG | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 32%▲31 |
| 58 | Zach WhitecloudDCGY | CGY | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 7.3%▲6.7 |
| 59 | Martin FehérváryDWSH | WSH | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 27%▼7.7 |
| 60 | Kevin BahlDCGY | CGY | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 4.8%▲4.6 |
| 61 | Jake ChristiansenDCBJ | CBJ | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 0.1% |
| 62 | Ryker EvansDSEA | SEA | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 14%▲13 |
| 63 | Anton JohanssonDDET | DET | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | — |
| 64 | Dmitri SimashevDUTA | UTA | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 20%▲20 |
| 65 | Charles Alexis LegaultDCAR | CAR | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 4.8%▲4.7 |
| 66 | Adam JiricekDSTL | STL | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 22%▲22 |
| 67 | Andreas EnglundDDET | DET | 3 | 1 | 3.00 | 0.0% |
| 68 | Gustav ForslingDFLA | FLA | 3 | 1 | 3.00 | 42%▲18 |
| 69 | Tyler KlevenDOTT | OTT | 3 | 1 | 3.00 | 8.0%▲7.9 |
| 70 | Emil LillebergDTBL | TBL | 3 | 1 | 3.00 | 4.8%▲4.7 |
| 71 | Uvis BalinskisDFLA | FLA | 3 | 1 | 3.00 | 4.0%▲3.9 |
| 72 | Morgan RiellyDTOR | TOR | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 76%▼5.1 |
| 73 | Hampus LindholmDBOS | BOS | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 17%▲15 |
| 74 | Travis SanheimDPHI | PHI | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 67%▼7.1 |
| 75 | Jalen ChatfieldDCAR | CAR | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 4.1%▲3.4 |
| 76 | Troy StecherDTOR | TOR | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 0.2% |
| 77 | Jamie DrysdaleDPHI | PHI | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 55%▲46 |
| 78 | Wyatt KaiserDCHI | CHI | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 6.5%▲6.2 |
| 79 | Artyom LevshunovDCHI | CHI | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 45%▲43 |
| 80 | Kris LetangDPIT | PIT | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 47%▼16 |
| 81 | Roman JosiDNSH | NSH | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 98%▼0.5 |
| 82 | Victor HedmanDTBL | TBL | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 93%▲11 |
| 83 | Dmitry KulikovDFLA | FLA | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 3.2%▲3.1 |
| 84 | Brayden McNabbDVGK | VGK | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 24%▲21 |
| 85 | Brady SkjeiDNSH | NSH | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 18%▼31 |
| 86 | Nate SchmidtDUTA | UTA | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 4.9%▲4.5 |
| 87 | Trevor van RiemsdykDPIT | PIT | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 0.8% |
| 88 | Aaron EkbladDFLA | FLA | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 50%▲34 |
| 89 | Devon ToewsDCOL | COL | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 62%▼1 |
| 90 | Andrew PeekeDUTA | UTA | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 6.5%▲6.2 |
| 91 | Samuel GirardDPIT | PIT | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 9.0%▲8.6 |
| 92 | Mikey AndersonDLAK | LAK | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 7.3%▲6.9 |
| 93 | Timothy LiljegrenDWSH | WSH | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 4.8%▲4.7 |
| 94 | Charle-Edouard D'AstousDTBL | TBL | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 22%▲17 |
| 95 | Mattias SamuelssonDBUF | BUF | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 79%▲9.3 |
| 96 | Thomas HarleyDDAL | DAL | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 88%▲8.6 |
| 97 | J.J. MoserDTBL | TBL | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 22%▲19 |
| 98 | Nolan AllanDSJS | SJS | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 4.8%▲4.7 |
| 99 | Arber XhekajDMTL | MTL | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 10%▲6.3 |
| 100 | Zayne ParekhDCGY | CGY | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 68%▲55 |
How to read it
Total hits this season, all situations.
How reliable is it?
Totals reward games and ice time. Hit counts also depend on the arena's scorer, so a home-heavy schedule can inflate them.
About our data sources →Projected next
Our fantasy projections for hits: who should lead the coming games.