Top 5 Hitters In The NHL

• Zdeno Chara

At 6’9 255 lbs, Chara is the biggest man in the NHL and the player no one wants to get hit by. Chara is a good skater for his size, so he is often in ideal position to slam forwards who carry it into the Bruins’ zone. Every player circles the date with Boston on the schedule, knowing that Chara’s massive frame lurks at the blue line. Chara can flatten players who would normally be considered big, so that gives him the credentials to be named the league’s top hitter. Fee-fi-fo-fum.

• Chris Pronger

Not only is Pronger big (6’6), he’s dirty. Prongs has no qualms about nailing someone from behind when the referees aren’t looking or using his stick to get players off balance before lowering the boom. Pronger is also the type of player who seeks out the opposition’s best or toughest, just to let them know he’s on the ice, which makes him perfectly suited for the ruthless Philadelphia Flyers. Pronger’s most devastating hit came against Detroit in the 2006 Western Conference playoffs. An Edmonton Oiler at the time, Prongs waited for Dan Cleary in the corner, and then sent the winger vertical with a flip of his elbow. Pronger is a grimy, hard-nosed guy who looks like he should be smashing beer bottles in the back of a bar, so it is no surprise that he provides NHL results.

• Dustin Brown

The only forward to make this list, Brown is an aggressive forechecker, who sets off like a missile for any defender handling the puck against the boards. Brown is a big power forward who has great speed, so once he gets you lined up, it’s over. The best thing about Brown is that he is also a skill player, so he can turn his hit-induced turnovers into scores. His best hit? Brown blindsided infamous pest Matt Cooke, a check that was praised as Cooke finally getting a taste of his own medicine.

• Niklas Kronwall

Kronwall has become a youtube sensation for his hits which flip opposing players on their backs. With the Red Wings again at the top of the Western Conference in the NHL standings, expect to see a great deal of Kronwall’s blasting checking style as the year goes on. The other Niklas, Lidstrom, may get ink for his complete game, but this Nik makes NHL news for delivering the type of hits that shake your television at home.

• Dustin Byfuglien

The playoff hero of a year ago makes his living irritating the opposition with trash-talk then backing it up with seismic body checks. Byfuglien is a big body who, whether he’s playing defense or forward, licks his chops at the chance to give out concussions. Byfuglien can also respond to any sort of retaliation with his fists. Byfuglien’s best hit came against Pronger in the Stanley Cup Finals last year, as he knocked the defender who was intended to be his shadow onto the ice handily, much to the delight of the Chicago crowd.