Hits: The Defensive Statistic Nobody Recognizes As a Defensive Statistic

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

In this years heated Hart Trophy (MVP) race, two players have separated themselves from the pack in the eyes of fans and voters.  With all due respect to the spectacular seasons of Zach Parise and the ever-underappreciated Pavel Daytsuk, this one is coming down to Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin.

With two games to play, this duo is almost dead even in points.  Malkin leads the league in assists.  Ovechkin leads the league in goals. 

But this is not an MVP debate article. 

In attempting to break the Ovechkin-Malkin deadlock, much has been made by media and pundits about the value of two oft ignored secondary statistics: hits (used as proof of Ovechkin's physical dominance) and takeaways (used as proof of Malkin's defensive superiority).  Regardless of who each of us ultimately sides with in the Hart debate, it strikes me as odd that so many people seem to ignore the fact that “hits” are not only a form of defense, but statistical evidence of successful defense. 

Most fans are unaware that “Hits” as a statistical category is not synonymous with “body checks.”  A player can land a thunderous check and not get credit for a “Hit” because hits only count as official “Hits” when they “remove the opposing player from the puck.”  To wit, Dion Phaneuf probably lands more body checks than any other player in the NHL, but he only ranks 42^nd in “Hits.” 

The Relative Value of a Hit Versus a Takeaway

Because of this narrow definition, hits and takeaways have far more in common than most fans seem to think.  Both are methods of dispossess an opposing player of the puck, and thus both are a form of defensive play.  Both require speed and quick thinking, because the defensive player needs to make his move before the offensive player has recognized what is about to happen and dished the puck to an offensive teammate.  Both create offense from defense. 

While much is similar between hits and takeaways, there are also some key differences.  Takeaways, by definition, have a 100% correlation with turnovers.  A takeaway isn’t a takeaway until the defensive player has gained possession. 

On the other hand, there is no guarantee that a hit will result in a turnover.  While the majority do, because all that is required for a hit is the generation of a loose puck, that puck could be recovered by an offensive teammate, or even the recipient of the hit himself in rare instances. 

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?