50 players with added fantasy value in hits leagues

Standard Yahoo Fantasy formats don't take hits into account, but it's worth noting that the incorporation of this category is reaching many leagues.

We're at the point where one-third of all Yahoo leagues use hits, and many of those fans choose to use that statistic instead of penalty minutes as a category. Though PIMs often gauge the physicality of a player, the stat takes many tactical penalties into account, which are detrimental to their team in reality and reflect undisciplined play. Physical players who use clean body checks on opponents can help their team regain possession of the puck, which in turn helps generate offense.

Fantasy owners have become well aware of standard-league category specialists, but hits-league participants are always looking for difference-makers in their specific formats.

Here are 50 fantasy hits-league assets you should have on your radar. When applicable, owners should value these players higher than their standing in NHL.com's top 275 fantasy rankings because of the boost they provide in the hits category.

RANK	FORWARDS	TEAM	COVERAGE	ANALYSIS
5	Ryan Getzlaf, C		G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT	Runner-up in scoring race; formed NHL-best pair with Corey Perry and added 100-plus hits.
6	Alex Ovechkin, RW		G, A, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	No one covers categories in such elite fashion like Ovechkin; draft him No. 3 in hits leagues.
22	Chris Kunitz, LW		G, A, +/-, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	Flanks No. 1 fantasy player Sidney Crosby and gets it done in all seven categories.
35	David Backes, C/RW		G, A, +/-, PIMs, PPP, HIT	Only player with 100-plus points, 600-plus hits, and 200-plus PIMs in past three seasons.
44	Wayne Simmonds, RW		G, A, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	Took power-play production to next level last season; ideal fourth-round pick in any format.
46	Gabriel Landeskog, LW		G, A, +/-, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	Only player with 25-plus goals, plus-20, 175-plus hits and 220-plus shots in 2013-14.
68	Milan Lucic, LW		G, A, +/-, PIMs, PPP, HIT	Physical force on Bruins' top line; can count on points, PIMs, hits and strong rating.
73	Ryan Kesler, C/RW		G, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	Has chance to revive career with Ducks; provides position flexibility and has top-50 potential.
87	Evander Kane, LW		G, A, PIMs, SOG, HIT	Among top-30 hits producers over past three seasons; 2nd in SOG per game since 2011-12.
104	Brandon Dubinsky, LW/C		A, +/-, PIMs, PPP, HIT	Finished 13th in hits last season; one of six with 50-plus points and 90-plus PIMs.
108	David Perron, LW/RW		G, A, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	Most SOG among players with 90-plus PIMs last season, but remains undervalued.
123	Chris Kreider, LW		G, A, +/-, PIMs, PPP, HIT	Cemented top-six role with NYR; uses speed to advantage; could soar in second full season.
134	Scott Hartnell, LW		G, A, +/-, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	Joins Kunitz and Landeskog as one of three seven-tool fantasy forward assets in the game.
147	Brayden Schenn, LW/C		G, A, PIMs, SOG, HIT	Breakout candidate who plays with Simmonds; provides balanced scoring and hits production.
156	Shane Doan, LW/RW		G, A, PPP, HIT	One of five fwd. with 120-plus points, 520-plus SOG and 450-plus hits in past three seasons.
171	Ryan Callahan, RW		A, PPP, HIT	Points-per-game average has dipped of late, but should crack Lightning's top-six group.
199	Troy Brouwer, RW		G, A, PIMs, PPP, HIT	Late value pick who brings offense (goals, PPP) and physicality (PIMs, hits).
204	Andrew Shaw, C		G, A, +/-, PIMs, HIT	Underrated forward who touches on every category in depth role for elite team.
207	Dustin Brown, LW/RW		+/-, PIMs, SOG, HIT	One of two with 100-plus points, 500-plus SOG and 600-plus hits in past three seasons.
233	Martin Hanzal, C		A, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	Will be even more fantasy-relevant in hits leagues if he stays healthy in 2014-15.
257	Nick Foligno, LW		G, A, +/-, PIMs, HIT	Among those with 210-plus hits last season, only four forwards had more goals than Foligno.
NR	Matt Martin, LW		PIMs, HIT	NHL hits leader in each of past three seasons; perfect fit for second LW spot in hits leagues.
NR	Tommy Wingels, RW		A, +/-, HIT	Gritty wing has strong rating and accumulates hits at high rate; chance at top-six forward spot.
NR	Cal Clutterbuck, RW		PIMs, HIT	If you miss Martin, target his teammate, Clutterbuck, who is among annual hits leaders.
NR	Zac Rinaldo, LW/C		PIMs, HIT	If you're in a league that counts hits and PIMs, Philly's grinder is worth your while in late rounds.
NR	Justin Abdelkader, LW/RW		A, HIT	Dual-eligible wing has played top-six minutes in past; underrated producer in points and hits.
NR	Marcus Foligno, LW		PIMs, HIT	Has shown flashes in past; could benefit from Sabres' center depth if he's more consistent.
RANK	DEFENSEMEN	TEAM	COVERAGE	ANALYSIS
16	P.K. Subban, D		G, A, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	Subban is top standard-league 'D' because of coverage; 100-plus hits sweeten the deal.
30	Shea Weber, D		G, A, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	Weber's value surpasses that of Ottawa Senators' Erik Karlsson in hits leagues.
49	Drew Doughty, D		G, A, +/-, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	Had no statistical weakness this past reg. season; hit next level on PP in postseason.
64	Zdeno Chara, D		G, A, +/-, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	One of two seven-tool 'D' assets; second among 'D' behind Weber with 10 PPG in 2013-14.
65	Dustin Byfuglien, RW/D		G, A, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	Role up in air but eligibility brings rare value; lock for points, shots, PIMs, hits and PPP.
72	Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D		G, A, PIMs, PPP, SOG, HIT	Take this six-tool asset over teammate Keith Yandle in hits formats; goals and PPP galore.
114	Niklas Kronwall, D		G, A, PIMs, PPP, HIT	Hits have dipped in past two seasons, but has been one of best 'D' in terms of PPP over span.
128	Brent Seabrook, D		G, A, +/-, HIT	Seabrook isn't as valuable as Duncan Keith in fantasy, but has clear edge in hits category.
135	Brent Burns, RW/D		G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT	Offense will dip on 'D', but still RW-eligible in Yahoo; bound for PPP spike with more ice time.
145	Dion Phaneuf, D		G, A, PIMs, PPP, HIT	One of four 'D' with 400-plus hits and 100-plus points in past three seasons; racks up PIMs.
172	Erik Johnson, D		G, A, +/-, PIMs, PPP, HIT	Tyson Barrie has more upside, but Johnson is Avs' most well-rounded 'D'; target after Rd. 14.
185	Slava Voynov, D		A, +/-, PIMs, PPP, HIT	Outside of assists, Voynov won't 'wow' you, but covers five categories; quality mid-round pick.
196	Jake Muzzin, D		A, +/-, PIMs, SOG, HIT	Could be a steal based on avg. draft position (146.3) if he improves shooting percentage.
198	Jack Johnson, D		A, PIMs, PPP, HIT	Solid totals in four categories; still hasn't hit ceiling; target after Rd. 13 in hits formats.
211	Cody Franson, D		A, PPP, HIT	Rating liability last season, but led 'D' in hits (282); strong distributor who contributes on PP.
253	Radko Gudas, D		A, PIMs, HIT	One of two with 150-plus PIMs and 20-plus points last season; presence felt in hits formats.
NR	Brenden Dillon, D		G, +/-, PIMs, HIT	Work in progress, but rating, PIMs and hits make Dillon must-own material in such leagues.
NR	Johnny Boychuk, D		A, PIMs, SOG, HIT	Can boost totals in hits and shots as fourth or bench defenseman.
NR	Francois Beauchemin, D		+/-, HIT	Benefits from deep roster; solid final pick in hits-league drafts to round out your defense.
NR	Luke Schenn, D		PIMs, HIT	Doesn't pack his brother's offensive punch, but has most hits among 'D' in past three seasons.
NR	Brooks Orpik, D		PIMs, HIT	Will log 20-plus minutes of ice time per game with Caps; sixth among 'D' in hits last season
NR	Ladislav Smid, D		PIMs, HIT	Doesn't contribute much in peripheral categories, but has hits and PIMs specialties.
NR	Dan Girardi, D		A, +/-, HIT	Produces hits in droves; chips in assists, SOG and solid rating; added value in blocks leagues.

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