Blade 1 
Known As:
Bauer P92 (Matthews)
CCM P29 (Crosby)
Warrior W03 (Backstrom)
True TC2 (Marner)
STX X92 (Grabner)
Sher-Wood PP26 (Stastny)
Easton E3 (Hall)
Pro Blackout P92
Formerly Sakic/Henrique/Ovechkin/Kopitar/Naslund
Description:
Blade 1 is a moderate mid-toe curve with an open face, particularly towards the toe, which is rounded.
Looking for Something Similar?:
Blade 10 is almost identical but with a slightly shallower mid section. Many players have also started to transition to Blade 6 recently for an option with a little bit more of a toe hook.. As this is such a popular curve, many others will feature aspects of it, making the transition to/away from Blade 1 fairly straightforward in most cases.
What it’s Good For:
The mid curve and open toe make Blade 1 great for shooting snapshots and wrist shots from both a power and an accuracy point of view. The open face makes it easy to lift the puck, even when you’re tight to the net. Though it doesn’t have a massive toe hook, it is still enough to drag the puck and pull off some sweet dangles. Overall, it is very versatile and easy to adapt to.
Downsides:
Like any curve that has a moderate to deep mid section, backhands can be difficult as there isn’t much flat surface area to shoot off of. Some players may find the open face difficult to handle and will end up firing the puck over the net more often than not.
Pro Players Using This Curve (or Similar):
This curve is hugely popular across all levels, with many of the best players in the world using an unmodified version. Some examples of NHL players who have been known to use this curve are Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand, Zdeno Chara, and Tyler Seguin.
Our Take:
The most popular curve in hockey for a reason. This is the curve we see most often from retail sticks right on up to the professional level, whether it be a forward with silky hands or a hard nosed defenseman. A well rounded, versatile curve that is great for both shooting and stickhandling, it’s tough to go wrong with Blade 1, especially if you’re new to the game or are unsure what curve would be best for you.