Since the 1970s, when NHL players realized that curving the blade of their wooden sticks gave them better shooting, better stickhandling, and overall a better feel on their stick, everyone single hockey player in the world has used a stick that has some sort of curve on the blade of their stick. This has evolved to now having over 40 different curves to choose from, from the most commonly used curves to the more custom curves from players who need every detail of their curve customized to the finest details.
One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to curves is that when a curve is named after a player, it means that the player uses that curve. This is not always the case however. Very often when a curve has a players name attached, it is purely for marketing purposes. In the case of P92/Matthews (or Blade 1), this is the curve that Auston Matthews uses, as well numerous other NHL players, as the P92 has become the most popular curve in the world. Originally called "the Sakic curve", inspired and named after Colorado Avalanche legend and NHL Hall of Famer Joe Sakic despite not being the curve he actually used on the ice, P92 rose to prominence owing to exceptionally puck control and shot accuracy, this mid-toe curve has become the go-to curve for hockey players all around the world. You may also know P92 as P29/Crosby. These curves are the exact same, just with Bauer being P92 and CCM being P29.
Other than P92, P28 (or Blade 6) is the most common choice of curve among players. This toe curve is suitable for someone looking to snipe top shelf with extreme consistency, as the big toe and open face allows for great precision and a quick release. Most notably this is the curve that Connor McDavid currently opts for. While a majority of players in the NHL opt for P92, P28 is a close second, popular amongst defensemen as it's a strong passing curve and the large toe allows for help in tight board battles.
A curve that has been gaining steady popularity in recent years is the P86 (or Blade 18). Trevor Zegras and Kent Johnson are credited with this curves rise in popularity, but the initial first person to use this curve was European pro Fyodor Polishchuk. The curve has also come to be known as the "Pro Zegras" since its rise in popularity. The P86 takes the best of the P92 and the P28 and combines them into one curve, with the shape of the blade being the same as the P92 but with more of a toe hook akin to the P28. This curve is only continuing to grow in popularity and we're definitely expecting more players in the Show to start utilizing this curve in coming years.
Of course, all of these curves are available both in pro stock and in our Pro Blackout, including our Pro Blackout custom curves. All of these and more are available now at unbeatable prices only found at HockeyStickMan! You can shop them here.
