Curve: PM9 (Malkin, St. Louis, Hossa)
Description: This is a very slight curve, the smallest offered by Bauer. It is slightly open, with a round toe. Advantages: This curve is excellent for passing. It is also good for deflections (tipping) and backhand shots due to its large flat area. The slight curve also makes it good for catching and giving passes on the backhand. Drawbacks: This curve makes it more difficult to raise the puck from in close near the net. Most players also prefer a bigger curve than this for shooting. In addition, controlling the puck is harder with the PM9 because it really does not cup the puck at all. Similar Curves: Easton Zetterberg, Warrior Fedorov/Savard, Reebok Madano/Hamrlik, CCM Steen, Mission Boyes/Elias, TPS Tkackuk, Sherwood Bouchard (underlined curves are most similar) Bottom Line: This is the playmakers' curve. If passing and feeding is your game, go with the PM9. |
Curve: P88 (Kane, Lindros)
Description: This is a prety big mid-heel curve with a closed face. Advantages: This curve is good for stickhandling and excellent for shooting. The deep curve and closed face makes it easy to cup and therefore control the puck. As for shooting, the closed face on the P88 makes it easier to control shots and keep them low. Drawbacks: This deep curve makes it more difficult to shoot and pass on the backhand. In close to the net, it is harder to get the puck up quickly than a curve with an open face such as the P92. Similar Curves: Easton Iginla, Warrior Kovalchuk, Reebok Bergeron, CCM Thorton, Mission Hossa/ Leopold 2/Hull, TPS Afinoginov, Sherwood Iginla (Underlined curves are most similar) Bottom Line: This is the shooters' curve. The hook on this curve zips the puck off the stick wherever you want, high or low. |
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Curve: P92 (Backstrom, Naslund)
Description: This is a big mid curve with a open face. Advantages: This is the stickhandling curve. Toe drags, dekes, and straight up dangling will be easier with the P92, because you can cup the puck better. The P92 is also great for snap shots because of the deep mid curve. The open face also makes it easier to raise the puck when you are in tight close to the net. Lastly, this curve is great for saucer passes. Drawbacks: The deep curve and open face makes backhand passing and shooting difficult. Similar Curves: Easton Sakic, Warrior Draper, Reebok Datsyuk, CCM Lecavlier, Mission Rafalski, TPS Nash, Sherwood Stastny/Crosby/P6087 (underlined curves are most similar) Bottom Line: If stickhandling and quick snap shots are what you're looking for, the P92 is for you. |
Curve: P102 (Gagne, Jokinen)
Description: This is Bauer's moderate curve. Advantages: Since this curve is in the middle for almost every feature (slightly open, moderate curve, etc.) it offers several good features. The main advantage of this curve is it offers no weaknesses. Drawbacks: The moderates of this curve make it very verstile, but it isn't great for any specific action. Similar Curves: Warrior Kovalev, Easton Iginla, Reebok Speeza, CCM Ovechkin, Mission Sundin/Carter, TPS Poss/Stoll, Sherwood Regher Bottom Line: This is a great curve for an all around player. It won't give you any strengths, but it won't leave one area of your game vulnerable. |
Curve: P91A (Stall)
Description: Heel curve with a very open face. Advantages: The most dominant feature of this curve is it's "big open" face (very open face). This allows the player to get the puck up high in close to the net. It also is useful for wings to chip the puck out of the defensive zone. This is also a good curve for playing in the corners, because it is long with not very much mid curve. Drawbacks: The very open face may have some players shooting higher than they would like. Also, there is not much mid curve to this stick, so wrist and snap shots will not be as hard or quick. Similar Curves: Easton Drury, Warrior Kovalev, Reebok Spezza, CCM Doan, Mission Sundin/Carter, Mission Regher Bottom Line: If you like to grind it out in the corners and get dirty in front of the net, the P91A is for you. |
Curve: P02 (Samsonov/Pronger)
Description: Deep heel curve with an open face and square toe. Blade length - Long Advantages: This curve has many features that benefit defensemen. The square toe is excellent for pulling pucks off the boards that have been rung by forwards. The long length is excellent for getting the puck deep, as well as shooting one-timers and poke-checking. Long blades like this one are also good for getting the puck on net quickly. Lastly, the P02 curve is great for slappers. Drawbacks: Most players prefer a round toe for pulling off moves (toe-drag etc). This is also a pretty big curve, which makes passing and shooting on the backhand difficult. Similar Curves: Easton Lidstrom, Warrior Jovanowski/Lidstrom, Reebok Phaneuf (P32), Sherwood Lidstrom, CCM Lecavlier, Mission Hainsey/McCauley Bottom Line: This curve is great for defensemen. The long length and square toe will have you playing D like Nik Lidstrom. |
***Note: Pictured is a warrior Lidstrom, which is nearly identical to a P02.
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