In Fantasy Hockey, trying to find skaters who generate points and also play a more physical game can often be difficult. There are forwards such as Brady Tkachuk and Tom Wilson who have proven to be consistent point-getters and produce many hits, but they have already been previously rostered in many leagues. Although some defencemen tend to be valuable for both hits and blocks, finding one that also provides points is a challenge in itself. However, there are some players that could still be lurking on the waiver wire in your Fantasy Hockey league, that not only throw the body but occasionally can put the puck in the net. Today, we will outline three NHL players who will help improve your fantasy team in both in hitting and scoring.
3 Hitters To Target Who Also Get Points
Kiefer Sherwood – Vancouver Canucks
Kiefer Sherwood is currently leading the NHL in hits by a large margin but still seems to be forgotten about in most Fantasy Hockey leagues this year. Across both FanTrax and Yahoo leagues, Sherwood is still below 50% rostered, despite accumulating 273 hits so far. Throughout 47 games played, the Canucks forward has managed to score 13 goals and is close to breaking his career-high of 27 points. In addition, he has already set a new career-high for hits and is the only NHL player with over 200 in the category. Sherwood was recently placed on IR with an undisclosed injury while the Canucks went on a road trip this past week. However, when the 29-year-old returns to full health, there’s no doubt that he should continue to be the Canucks main enforcer. For managers looking for a game-changer in the hits category, while also securing a player who can score, Sherwood is a great option to quietly stash on the IR for the time being.
Will Cuylle – New York Rangers
Despite the Rangers facing many problems throughout their entire lineup this year, Will Cuylle has easily been one of the bright spots. In the 22-year-old’s second full season in the NHL, he’s managed to record 13 goals and 14 assists thus far, while also generating 181 hits. Cuylle sits in 6th on the Rangers for most points, and is also a +6 rating on the year, unlike many of his teammates such as Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere who have a high tally in the minus column. Now 50 games into the season, Cuylle has proven to have fantasy impact, with his ability to be physical while providing offensive value for the Rangers catching the eye of some managers. That said, Cuylle did enter a drought near the end of 2024, not having scored for an entire month. However, the left-winger has recorded three points in his last 5 games, and more importantly, has tallied 16 hits during that time. Cuylle sits 4th among hits leaders this season, and he does not show any signs of slowing down for managers looking for extra physicality.
Eeli Tolvanen – Seattle Kraken
Out of all the options discussed thus far, Eeli Tolvanen has the potential to provide the most offensive value among hitting leaders going forward. Unlike Sherwood and Cuylle, the 25-year-old has not cracked the top five in hits. However, he has still accumulated 160 in the category this year, while recording 15 goals on the season. More impressively, Tolvanen is currently on a four-game goal streak and has 9 points in his last 12 games. At the beginning of the year, the right-winger’s only fantasy value seemed to come in the form of hits. He’s now proven to be one of the Kraken’s most productive forwards and has become an asset for managers looking to add some scoring. In addition, he’s also increased how much he throws the body, recording 46 hits in his last 12 games. If Tolvanen continues this hot streak, he could be a pivotal asset on your fantasy team come playoff time.
Fantasy Hockey managers often rely too much on defencemen to generate hits, especially when there have been proven forwards who get physical and produce offensively this season. Sherwood, Cuylle, and Tolvanen are all capable of recording nearly double digits in the hits category on any given night, which is crucial when you are on the losing side of hits in fantasy. Heading into February, Sherwood will likely be underestimated due to injury. Cuylle is still flying under the radar after finally contributing offensively again, and Tolvanen is quietly on his way to becoming the Kraken’s best goal-scorer. Making all three options valuable acquisitions as we approach the final quarter of many Fantasy Hockey seasons.
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