Matthews reveals how he chooses his flex and curve

It’s no secret that Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews has one of the most deadly shots in the NHL. The 20-year-old is a “complete player” as scouts like to say however, so it’s not just his shot that sets him apart from his peers. While he can rip home a wrist shot or snap shot with the best of them, Matthews is just as adept at stick handling, passing and checking. When he chooses a stick, he must consider all these things.

In a recent interview with Sportsnet, Matthews revealed his “go-to” choice for flex and curve. Like many other young players in the game, Matthews elects to go with a particularly “whippy” flex, using an 80 flex stiffness with a P92 Joe Sakic curve. 

The P92 curve has been around for decades now and is a popular choice with many NHLers, but the trend of going with such a low flex is a relatively new phenomenon. Traditionally players have used a 90 or 100 flex stick, but with slap shots being used less and less frequently by forwards, the need for a stiffer stick has waned. Some players, most notably Calgary Flames sniper Johnny Gaudreau, uses a 70 flex stick which is usually reserved for children. 

Check out this clip from Bauer Hockey with Matthews talking about his stick: