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: