Toronto Maple Leafs Lead the League in One Surprising Stat

Despite the team's attempts to change this narrative, the culture of the team never really seems to change.

This offseason, new general manager Brad Treliving went out of his way to change this narrative, bringing in supposed tough guys Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and Ryan Reaves.

While the results have been questionable at best, Treliving's plan may have worked in one odd way as the Leafs currently lead the league in hits. This is typically a sign that a team is big, tough, and relentless on the puck carrier.

Those things do not really accurately reflect how the Leafs play though. Despite the offseason moves, this team is still largely the same stylistically speaking as they have been in recent years.

Notably, the Leafs have played 15 games, giving them an advantage over 21 teams as most teams have only played 13 or 14 contests so far.

Similarly, each NHL building has their own score keepers who keep track of statistics like hits. What this means is that what constitutes a hit in Toronto may not be the same as what constitutes a hit in Anaheim.

Anyone who gets into the fine details of fantasy hockey knows this. Perhaps this can also explain part of the reason for the Leafs leading the league in hits.

Notably, the Leafs also lead the league in hits taken.

This would make sense if their home score keepers have a low bar for what counts as a hit. Nine of the Leafs 15 games so far have been at home, so they have been the benefactor of their home score keepers more often than not, further contributing to this effect.

As such, it would seem that Toronto's score keepers have a quick trigger finger when it comes to handing out hits.