Vancouver Canucks players have received 809 hits so far this season.

One of the Vancouver Canucks' biggest storylines this season revolves around hits. In large part to Kiefer Sherwood's 249 hits, the Canucks rank third overall in the league this season with 1,193 hits through 42 games. While most of the attention is focused on who throws the hit, Vancouver has also been very good at avoiding hits, ranking third in the NHL with 809 received in 2024-25. 

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Despite having a large hit total and a small hits taken total look like positives, they are actually an indicator that the Canucks don't have the puck on their stick enough. For example, the league leader in hits taken is the Winnipeg Jets, who sit third in Goals For Per Game this season. While no team wants their players to take a large number of hits, Vancouver's low hits taken total shows that they need to find a way to possess the puck more frequently during games. 

After seeing the total number of hits Canucks players have received this season, the logical follow-up is to figure out which player has taken the most hits. While many would think the leader would be someone like Quinn Hughes or Elias Pettersson, the actual answer is somewhat surprising. Below is a look at the top ten players on Vancouver's roster according to Natural Stat Trick. 

While it is not shocking to see defensemen at the top of the list, the fact Noah Juulsen ranks first is a little surprising. Yes, he spends most of his time in a matchup role against the opposition's top six, but his high hit total indicates that he has the puck on his stick more often than people may think. As for the hit total itself, Juulsen ranks tied for 77th in the league and has the same hits taken total as Sam Reinhart, Ryker Evans, Jan Ruuta and Ian Cole. 

As for Hughes, his total number of hits taken is impressive, considering how often the puck is on his stick. Hughes is one of the league leaders in puck possession, yet he is being hit only 2.69 times per every hour he is on the ice. In the end, Hughes' numbers show just how evasive he is on a night-to-night basis. 

While it is a weird thing to write, the Canucks as a team need to be hit more. As mentioned, the low hits taken total can be directly correlated to Vancouver's puck possession as they currently rank last in Shots For Per 60 and second last in Corsi For Per 60 at all strengths this season. In the end, the Canucks finishing middle of the pack in hits taken rather than near the bottom of the league could be what's best for the team if they have their eyes on a spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

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