In many fantasy hockey leagues, grinders who can hit, fight, and get penalty minutes one way or another are valuable. This can get your team extra points in points leagues or win your fantasy team categories each week. A lot of the spotlight gets put on players who can score and produce a ton offensively, but this is the other side of that.
For the most part, having at least one of these grinders on your fantasy hockey team is integral to get the edge over other teams. Not every manager uses this strategy and they end up having very one-dimensional teams. Have a strong all-around team and better things will happen in fantasy hockey year after year. Most of these players are also able to help out in other areas as well, which is important here and makes them some of the best options. These players can come from forward or defense, so let’s get into it.
Top Fantasy Hockey Grinders
Jeremy Lauzon, Nashville Predators
Jeremy Lauzon was far and away the best hitter in the NHL last season. He led the league with 386 hits. This is 60 more than the player with the second most, and Lauzon missed three games. He should get a top-4 role and play on the second pairing, for most of the season. His ice time may even go up a bit due to his consistency, but he also plays a rough game and recorded 98 PIMS last season as well. Lauzon isn’t an impactful point producer, but that’s just extra. Nobody else led the league in hits.
Dakota Joshua, Vancouver Canucks
Dakota Joshua had a breakout season in 2023-24. Just because he broke out offensively doesn’t mean he changed his formula to success in the physical department. He jumped from 222 hits in 79 games to 245 hits in 63 games. The 28-year-old also recorded the exact same amount of penalty minutes (60) as he took on a bigger role. Joshua recorded 18 goals and 32 points, which is a nice addition to the grittiness he brings to each game. In a full season, this is a great combination for a fantasy hockey player. The Vancouver Canucks don’t look as strong on the wings this season, so Joshua could very well get a little more playing time. He won’t waste it if it comes to him.
Neal Pionk, Winnipeg Jets
Neal Pionk is a great pick who has also been covered in the top defensive sleepers this year. He plays on the second pairing and unlike many defensemen around the league, he can produce as well as put up big numbers across the board. He played nearly 21 minutes per game last season and finished 22nd in the league in hits. His penalty minutes are a little lower than a pure grinder would be with 63 last season, but he embraced that role and racked up more penalty minutes than he had in his career thus far. On top of hitting and adding penalty minutes, Pionk blocks over 100 shots per season.
Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals
When you think of grit and hated players around the league, Tom Wilson comes to many people’s minds. This is because of how he plays the game. Every team wants him and despises playing against him. It makes Wilson a very valuable fantasy hockey option in that he can hit and put up a lot of penalty minutes in his sleep. He is always in the mix and in the 10 seasons he’s played at least 40 games, he has recorded over 90 penalty minutes in every one and over 195 hits in nine of them. Just last season he finished third in penalty minutes with 133 and 21st in hits with 228. Wilson is still expected to play on the top line and he put up a career high of 24 goals and 52 points in 2021-22, which isn’t too long ago.
Garnet Hathaway, Philadelphia Flyers
Garnet Hathaway is a pure grinder and doesn’t bring too much else to the table after that. He is a fourth-liner, but don’t let that put you off of him. The veteran is on the Philadelphia Flyers which has John Tortorella as the head coach. He rewards hard work and tough play, so Hathaway will continue to get his regular bottom-six playing time and deliver hits and penalty minutes a lot and consistently. He finished second in the league in hits with 326 and fourth in the league in penalty minutes with 132.
Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks
If Radko Gudas stays healthy for the entire season, he’s a surefire great grinder to have. He will play top-4 minutes in Anaheim. The Ducks aren’t expected to be good either, so Gudas will have plenty of time on the ice without the puck, hitting and taking penalties. When playing 70 or more games in each of the two seasons prior to 2023-24, the beast on the back end delivered more than 300 hits. He still managed to finish 18th in hits in the league with 232 while playing 66 games. Gudas also finished fifth in penalty minutes with 128. It’s the second time in three seasons he’s cleared 100 PIMs.
Nikita Zadorov, Boston Bruins
Nikita Zadorov emerged as a strong option on the back end to help your fantasy hockey team in multiple ways last season and should be an even better one moving forward. After playing on the second or third pairings in Calgary and Vancouver, Zadorov is now expected to take over Matt Grzelcyk’s spot beside Charlie McAvoy on the top pairing in Boston after signing there. He’s coming off a breakout season and the playoffs were especially big for Zadorov as part of his coming-out party.
Zadorov may have scored six goals and 20 points in 75 regular season games, but he exploded for four goals and eight points in 13 games to go along with 26 penalty minutes and 45 hits. He finished 6th in PIMs during the regular season with 125 and had 177 hits. He has delivered 278 hits before in a season so that potential is still there with more projected ice time.
Related: 5 Sleeper Goalies for 2024-25 Fantasy Hockey
A lot of the time focusing on grabbing a grinder or two to fill out your fantasy hockey roster can be the difference maker between a championship and struggling to make the playoffs. Don’t miss an opportunity to draft or pick up one of these top grinders who will be game-changers throughout the season.