NHL Video: Power Ranking the 10 Biggest Hits of the 2011 NHL Season

The NHL thrives on big hits—no one wants to watch a hockey game that isn't full of monster checks. 

However, the NHL has really limited hitting, especially hits to the head.

Even with the NHL attempting to limit hits, there is only so much they can do to stop these players who thrive on head-hunting.

The hitting is what makes hockey such a fun game to watch for the fans, so why not take the time to countdown the top 10 hits from the 2011 NHL season?

Without further ado, here are the biggest hits from this season.

10. Alex Ovechkin on Evgeni Malkin

Alex Ovechkin is mainly known for his goal scoring abilities, but it doesn't mean he can't hit someone when the time comes.

In fact, Ovechkin is one of the most physical offensive players in the game and has no problem throwing his body around.

Evgeni Malkin likely didn't enjoy this hit as much as the rest of us.

9. Mark Giordano on Taylor Hall

Mark Giordano officially welcomed Taylor Hall to the NHL with this monster hip check on Oct. 26.  Taylor Hall tried to carry the puck into the zone and Giordano beat him to the spot.

Hall got up fairly quickly from the hit, though, and eventually tracked Giordano down.  Hall is not afraid to defend himself and if he gets hit, he has no problem throwing the gloves and getting down to business.

8. Cal Clutterbuck on Stephane Robidas

This list wouldn't be complete without a Cal Clutterbuck hit, as he led the NHL in hits for a reason.  Clutterbuck thrives in being a pest and loves to hit opponents.

Stephane Robidas was attempting to clear the puck out of the zone here, and as he looked up Clutterbuck was in his face, that isn't good news for anybody.

7. R.J. Umberger on Brent Seabrook

The most remarkable thing about this hit on R.J. Umberger on Brent Seabrook is that he was running side by side with him, and didn't line him up.

Both of these players were running toward the puck, and then both set to make the hit and Seabrook took the worst of it as he went crashing toward the ice.

Umberger showed his pure strength as he laid the hammer down on Seabrook.

6. Drew Doughty on Taylor Hall

Unfortunately for Taylor Hall, he ends up as a recipient of two of the biggest hits of the year.  On the bright side, he survived both of them without any major injury.

Hall got caught here by Drew Doughty as he came charging full speed down the boards and Drew laid the hip check out for him.

Hall walked right into it as he got absolutely destroyed and—of course—a fight broke out as future LA King Dustin Penner went after Drew Doughty.

5. James Wisniewski on Jamie Benn

James Wisniewski is known for being a big hitter, in fact, the New York Islanders made a season out of fighting and hitting this season.

Jamie Benn found himself in "No Man's Land" as he was streaking down the boards between WIsniewski and Doug Weight, and Wisniewski made him pay with this ferocious hit.

4. Alex Ovechkin on PK Subban

Alex Ovechkin makes his presence felt again, as he is the only player to see his name appear twice on this list (as the checker). 

Ovechkin must have been thinking about the 2010 NHL playoffs when he saw PK Subban coming down on him at center ice, and made Subban pay the price.

The Tampa Bay Lightning better keep their heads up next year, as Ovechkin will likely be head hunting again.

Don't worry Canadiens' fans, Subban has something to say about big hits later on this list.

3. Zdeno Chara on Max Pacioretty

The most controversial hit of the season has to be on this list.  Zdeno Chara didn't even put all of his weight into Max Pacioretty, but the damage was certainly already done.

Chara was sent off the ice with a major penalty, and if this hit were at center ice, it would not have looked even close to this bad.

Thankfully, Pacioretty has been back on the ice and it appears that he will make a full recovery, but there is no question this was one of the biggest hits of the year.

2. Dion Phaneuf on Tuomo Ruutu

The captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs didn't hold back in the early minutes of this game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Dion Phaneuf lined up Tuomo Ruutu as soon as he got the puck and absolutely flattened him.  Ruutu likely didn't expect to get hit that hard so early in the game, but Phaneuf did not hold back a bit as he steam-rolled through him.

1. PK Subban on Brad Marchand

P.K. Subban is not exactly the most orthodox checker at times, but he can certainly lay the wood.  Brad Marchand looked to carry the puck all the way up ice here and quickly met his match in Subban.

Marchand is an extremely fast player and found himself looking down to make sure he still had the puck where he wanted it—and then Subban absolutely destroyed him.

Don't believe me, take a look for yourself, as Subban's hit on Marchand takes the cake for biggest hit of the 2010-11 season.