You Won’t Believe Who Has the Hardest Shot in the NHL: These Stats Will Blow Your Mind

The NHL EDGE tracking data is out for the 2024–25 regular season, and once again, the radar guns were working overtime. With every thunderous slapshot and lightning-quick release, fans were treated to a season full of high-velocity highlights and jaw-dropping numbers. Since the league introduced real-time player and puck tracking, we’ve had a front-row seat to just how fast today’s NHL really is — and this year may have been the fastest yet.

From booming slapshots from the blue line to snappy wrist shots from the slot, this season delivered a showcase of raw shooting power and precision. But numbers don’t lie — and now that we have the full picture, it’s time to dig into the data.

Who unleashed the single hardest shot of the season? Which players consistently broke the 100 mph barrier? How do the league's top defensemen compare, and whoo elevated their shot velocity in the playoff? 

Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers (source: ESPN)

The Hardest Shot This Season

There’s no debate: Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres sits atop the leaderboard for the hardest shot recorded in the 2024–25 season.

Top Shot Speed (All Types):
106.0 mph (170.6 km/h) — Tage Thompson
Recorded against the Dallas Stars

TOP SHOT SPEED (source: NHL EDGE)

That 106.0 mph missile wasn’t just the hardest this season — it’s the fastest shot ever tracked by NHL EDGE since the system launched. The shot even beat Thompson’s own previous record from earlier in the year: a 104.69 mph bomb.

Thompson's blend of size, leverage, and silky mechanics creates a near-perfect storm for velocity. For context: 106 mph is the kind of heat we previously only associated with All-Star Skills competitions. For more on how NHL shot speeds have evolved, revisit our deep dive → The Hardest Shot Ever Recorded in the NHL – EDGE Tech.

Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres (source: Newsweek)

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Most Consistent Hard Shooters (100+ mph Club)

It’s one thing to hit triple digits once. It’s another to live there. This season, only a few players made a habit of breaking the 100 mph barrier.

Most Shots Over 100 mph (All Situations):

1. Tage Thompson – 5 shots

2. Ryan Pulock – 4 shots
   

Tage Thompson Goals (24-25 NHL Season)

That makes Thompson the only forward to hit 100+ mph five separate times. Pulock, the Islanders' blue-line cannon, is the only player who’s done it more than once in each of the past three EDGE-tracked seasons. For historical comparison read our blog → The Hardest Shot in Modern Hockey History

100+ mph shots (source: NHL EDGE)

Defensemen with the Biggest Bombs

While high-powered forwards like Tage Thompson continue to grab headlines, the blue line remains a powerhouse of raw shooting strength. This season, several defensemen reaffirmed their reputation as the NHL’s true heavy hitters.

Here’s how the top D-men stacked up this year:

• Gustav Forsling – 105.05 mph

• Michael Kesselring – 103.77 mph

• Colton Parayko – 102.3 mph

TOP SHOT SPEED - DEFENSEMEN (source: NHL EDGE)

Leading the charge was Gustav Forsling, who unleashed a blistering 105.05 mph rocket — the hardest shot among defensemen in 2024–25. Not far behind was Utah's Michael Kesselring with a 103.77 mph blast, followed by Colton Parayko of the Blues, whose 102.3 mph strike further cemented his status as a consistent threat from the point. These numbers show that when it comes to pure velocity, the league’s top D-men are still bringing the heat. 

Michael Kesselring, Utah Mammoth (source: KSL News)

Playoff Heat – 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs (So Far)

Though the 2025 postseason is still underway, the early NHL EDGE data is already heating up. In the tighter, more physical playoff environment, finding clean space for high-speed shots is tougher — making every 100+ mph blast even more impressive. 

So far, top playoff shots include Colin Miller’s blistering 99.74 mph slapshot for the Winnipeg Jets and Victor Hedman’s 99.20 mph effort for Tampa Bay. Defensemen dominate the high-velocity category, accounting for 72 of the 86 shots over 90 mph, with Hedman leading at 10 such shots. Among forwards, Alex Ovechkin stands out with four shots above 90 mph.

These numbers show that even under playoff pressure, players continue to bring their shot power and precision to the next level. Your shot can be better, when your stick is better. Choose the right hockey stick after reading our blog. 

How Does This Compare to Previous Seasons?

NHL EDGE data from recent seasons reveals a clear trend: shot velocity is on the rise, and it’s not slowing down. Since 2022, we've seen steady increases not only in top-end speeds but also in the number of players consistently breaking the 100 mph barrier. What used to be a rare feat — typically reserved for slapshot contests at the All-Star Game — is now happening regularly, during high-pressure game situations.

Back in 2022, top shot speeds hovered around 102 mph. Fast forward to 2025, and we’re seeing pucks launched at up to 106 mph in live play. Even more notable is the growing list of forwards reaching triple digits — this isn’t just the domain of defensemen anymore. Players like Tage Thompson, Ryan Pulock, and Cale Makar have become regulars atop the velocity charts, year after year.

Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche (source: The Hockey News)

These aren’t isolated blasts on open ice. These are full-speed, in-traffic, game-shifting shots — the kind that break through defensive structures and change the momentum of a playoff series. The data makes it clear: the modern NHL shot is faster, more dangerous, and more consistent than ever before. 

Do you remember how Filip Hronek fired the hardest slapshot ever recorded by the NHL tracking technology? "I have been using Rezztek® since it was introduced to me few years ago and I feel really good when shooting with it. I do not think that it is a coincidence that Zee (Zdeno Chára) has chosen this technology as well," said Czech defenseman back then. Learn more in our blog. 

The Rezztek Edge

If there’s one clear takeaway from the 2024–25 season, it’s this: elite shot velocity is no longer an outlier — it’s becoming the standard. Across the league, players are firing harder, faster, and more consistently than ever before. And it’s not just raw talent driving this shift. Advances in stick technology, refined shooting mechanics, and yes, even the smallest details — like if you use tape on your blade or Rezztek — are making a measurable difference.

Do you remember the hardest shot ever recorded in modern hockey history? Legendary Slovak titan Zdeno Chára advices you how to make shot better. "Shoot , shoot , shoot .. practice makes it better," he said. Easier said than done Zee, doesn't it? Read more here. 

The surface you shoot from affects everything: puck feel, control, energy transfer, and ultimately, shot speed. NHL EDGE data supports what our athletes have known for years — that performance gains often come from optimizing the details. → Explore the Rezztek advantage. 

Whether you’re winding up for a point blast, snapping off a quick wrister in stride, or ripping a one-timer on the power play, Rezztek gives players the confidence that every ounce of power is making it to the puck. Trusted by elite shooters across the NHL, it’s built for those chasing every advantage — because in today’s game, every edge counts.