McD’s pattern is that Coffeyed Iginla JR. Gaudreau uses a stock(-ish?) P88, maybe J. Hughes as well. Just nitpicking.TL DR version: some guys are super picky, some guys don’t care.
At every level.
I think these skill coaches are great and guys like Oates, Turk etc obviously add a ton of value for guys looking to get more out of their game. That said, I think the one size fits all “everyone should use a shorter stick” or “everyone should use P92/P28” type guidance is kind of outrageous since none of it is objectively “better”. The best player in the world uses a straight blade. 97 basically uses a P88. Barzal and Tavares play with a heel, etc, etc. I don’t think they’re leaving anything on the table by not following skill coach protocol. It’s easy to say they’re elite talents and can play with a broomstick but I think it applies across the board. It’s all about what you’re most comfortable with IMO and what enables you to play without thinking about your gear.
Pros bumping up to higher flexes and longer sticks?
#21
Posted 31 August 2019 - 11:18 AM
#22
Posted 31 August 2019 - 11:43 AM
It's like anything really. Some guys put a lot of thought into the little things, while others just do the job with whatever they're provided.
On an unscientific level: On my men's league team, we have several guys that use intermediate sticks. They have decent shots, but nothing like a guy using a 95 flex. His shots are an absolute rocket, and at least two or three times a season he gives the goalie a stinger. He's no bigger or heavier than the guys using the 67 flex. A lot of it is his shot mechanics, and the way he uses the flex to work for him. I am a smaller guy (5'10", 160 lbs), and I'm bumping up on flex. I was using 70 flex, but now I'm using 82 flex sticks. I found with the 80-85 flex my shot is harder and more accurate, IF MY MECHANICS are right.
I went the other way. I'm around 5'9" and 160 lbs. Started with 100 flex in minor (yep...) and then went down to an 87 stock senior height, then down to 82, then down to 77 cut one notch, then down to 67 stock intermediate height. Used that for a while then saw a good deal for a 60 flex and cut it down one notch. Enjoyed that quite a bit then cut it down another notch. This is now my ideal (with a P28 curve). I'm using a 67 flex P92 cut down two notches and I am having difficulty getting used to it due to the added stiffness - wouldn't think that 7 flex would make that big of a difference.
I find that I can get my shot off really quickly with great whip whereas I felt with longer sticks, my shot would be amazing IF I had time to fully load it up. Unfortunately I'm not very fast 
so I rarely had the time and space to do that in a game. The shorter stick is a lot more responsive to me and I find it's improved my skating as well due.
#23
Posted 01 September 2019 - 04:32 PM
On the topic of some pros caring about their gear and being particular, Connor Carrick seems be one of those guys lol
#24
Posted 01 September 2019 - 06:53 PM
On the topic of some pros caring about their gear and being particular, Connor Carrick seems be one of those guys lol
Well, the second photo was mine😂 and my post was about Connor lol. He DMed me asking about the stick code because my prostock was from His days in Dallas, and he broke his last one
#25
Posted 01 September 2019 - 10:52 PM
Wow small world lol. He definitely owes you a couple twigs for Christmas 
#26
Posted 02 September 2019 - 05:12 AM
Wow small world lol. He definitely owes you a couple twigs for Christmas
Well I kind of owed him this one. He helped me win two custom DX sticks, and a pair of DX gloves, so I was happy to help haha
#27
Posted 02 September 2019 - 11:21 PM
Matthews has been in AZ for a lot of the summer and has been spending a lot of time with the ASU guys. I had a good conversation with him one day about sticks and unlike a lot of pros who aren't aware what they actually use he is very educated in the difference of kick points, blade stiffness, curves, lie, flex and such. He actually discussed how the Warrior sticks he has been using are slightly longer than he typically uses with a higher lie and a taller height blade and lower flex. It was interesting to me that he is looking at changing things so drastically as he has some of the most unique and praised shooting characteristics in the NHL. On the other hand I spoke with a few other pros not long ago, and they didn't even know what hollow they skate on or anything else about their gear. The common theme I have been seeing is the younger players are more educated in equipment but the older players just use what works for them and don't ever second guess anything. Though, one young player I spoke with once was McDavid, and he doesn't have a clue about any of his stuff at all. He said he uses what they tell him to use and it works fine, so he doesn't worry about it. With skill like his you could give him a tree branch and roller blades, and he would still do just fine on the ice....
All hockey players are bilingual. They know English and profanity.
- Gordie Howe
#28
Posted 03 September 2019 - 08:02 AM
Matthews has been in AZ for a lot of the summer and has been spending a lot of time with the ASU guys. I had a good conversation with him one day about sticks and unlike a lot of pros who aren't aware what they actually use he is very educated in the difference of kick points, blade stiffness, curves, lie, flex and such. He actually discussed how the Warrior sticks he has been using are slightly longer than he typically uses with a higher lie and a taller height blade and lower flex. It was interesting to me that he is looking at changing things so drastically as he has some of the most unique and praised shooting characteristics in the NHL. On the other hand I spoke with a few other pros not long ago, and they didn't even know what hollow they skate on or anything else about their gear. The common theme I have been seeing is the younger players are more educated in equipment but the older players just use what works for them and don't ever second guess anything. Though, one young player I spoke with once was McDavid, and he doesn't have a clue about any of his stuff at all. He said he uses what they tell him to use and it works fine, so he doesn't worry about it. With skill like his you could give him a tree branch and roller blades, and he would still do just fine on the ice....
Longer stick with a higher lie sounds unusual, but I’m sure he can make it work. It is also summer, so why not.
#29
Posted 03 September 2019 - 08:12 AM
Longer stick with a higher lie sounds unusual, but I’m sure he can make it work. It is also summer, so why not.
Tim Turk right there. High lie, low flex, long stick.
#30
Posted 03 September 2019 - 09:11 AM
#31
Posted 03 September 2019 - 03:12 PM
I wonder how that plays into him using an ADV for a couple of games at the beginning of last season (or was it the season before) when he wouldn’t be listening to what Bauer tells him to use.The McDavid comment is striking to me since he seems so attached to the older CCM gear.
Custom everything.
#32
Posted 03 September 2019 - 06:34 PM
Wonder how Warrior feels seeing their new flagship stick weighing more than their competitors’ offerings (obviously it’s most likely not a 1:1 retail build but point still stands).
I wonder how that plays into him using an ADV for a couple of games at the beginning of last season (or was it the season before) when he wouldn’t be listening to what Bauer tells him to use.
Definitely not a retail build, unless it's a few inches longer than retail length which is entirely possible. My retail DX is 398g without an end plug at full retail length (85 flex, w03).
#33
Posted 04 September 2019 - 09:25 AM
Definitely not a retail build, unless it's a few inches longer than retail length which is entirely possible. My retail DX is 398g without an end plug at full retail length (85 flex, w03).
IMO, Warrior needed to make the Alpha line better, I disliked the QX and absolutely hate the QRE, though the QRE SL was a slight improvement. I felt the last release of Warrior sticks was not great.
All hockey players are bilingual. They know English and profanity.
- Gordie Howe
#34
Posted 04 September 2019 - 05:35 PM
#35
Posted 04 September 2019 - 05:44 PM
IMO, Warrior needed to make the Alpha line better, I disliked the QX and absolutely hate the QRE, though the QRE SL was a slight improvement. I felt the last release of Warrior sticks was not great.
The QX for me in game felt like a dud. I loved the QRL, still do. The QRE I’ve never tried but the QX for me like any extra effort to punch a hard shot went nowhere. Pros seem to love it though, I see a lot of guys using T8 QX
#36
Posted 04 September 2019 - 08:51 PM
The QX for me in game felt like a dud. I loved the QRL, still do. The QRE I’ve never tried but the QX for me like any extra effort to punch a hard shot went nowhere. Pros seem to love it though, I see a lot of guys using T8 QX
Yeah, wasn't big on the QX. I do like the DX better, as the blade is definitely livelier, more like the QRL. Wasn't a huge fan of the QRE either, mostly because I felt the blade was pretty dead compared to the QRL. I do have a T8QRL build stick I'm using that's awesome though, really liking that.
