Hits are probably the most unreliable stat for discerning toughness.
Probably worse than +/- as a useful stat. At least +/- isn't subject to the whims of each buildings stats guy.
Using TSN stats, top ten include Del Z, Lucic. Reeves, T. Wilson and Zadorov. Who would you most rather line up against in a tough 7 game series?
I'm guessing 99% of the world would pick Del Z.
Numbers 41-50 goes from C. Miller > J Virtanen, I'm thinking Virtanen inflicts more pain with his 156 hits than does Miller with 165. Just a hunch.
Further down the list from 341-350 (mid league) is T. Myers, S. Weber, M Hanzel and M. Grabner. Grabner had the most hits but Canuck fans know all too well what M. Hanzel can do in one shift.
Hey Brock Boesser out hit Connor McD by one hit. That hit cost Brock 1/3 of the season.
Watching Jake hit is awesome and will likely be better next year. If he adds 100 hits he'd rank 2nd in the league.
Meanwhile Biega/Motte/Archi barely combined to play 1 full season in a Canuck jersey.
There are glass hitters and freight train hitters. Not all hits are created equal and not all hits are counted equally.