Blame the Stick

[tro 4]

From the the New York Post today. I quess he doesn't care for the sickick to much, you would think they would make him anything he wants.

"Sticks in Jagr's craw

The old anti-whining saying holds that only a bad carpenter blames his tools. But what about complaints from a guy who has won two Stanley Cups and five scoring titles, who has scored 624 career goals?

Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr ain't happy with his twigs at the moment. And he believes that while much fuss has been made about his getting used to a new center, his modest start to the season is also due to unfamiliarity with his hockey sticks. But there appears to be little he can do about that, because Reebok doesn't make his preferred model anymore.

"Look at this - just touch the stick, how slippery it is. How am I supposed to shoot?" Jagr said, disgustedly trying to get tape to stick to the ultra-smooth surface of the RBK sticks he's felt stuck with this season. Jagr says he can't get a grip on the sticks with his gloves and feels like he can't get a real grip on his offensive game as a result.

"I don't get it," he said. "I play with the same sticks for 20 years and I have to change it because they stopped making it. I've got no choice. I have to adjust."

[kovalchuk71 212]

Get grip on the stick

What a whiner. He doesn't have to stick with that stick does he?

[mack 44]

Yeah...it's the sticks.

[daca 0]

Jagr's a badass. Get the man what he needs.

Still pretty funny.

[big ben 0]

A pro should be able to use any piece of equipment and adapt.

[Krev 86]

A pro should be able to use any piece of equipment and adapt.

Jagr's a pro?

[wullymc 0]

I should start using that excuse!!

I agree a pro should be able to adjust, especially practicing everyday, games every second day....it shouldn't take him too long to get their.

[Toonces 0]

I can't believe I'm about to defend Jagr...

Hockey players are such creatures of habit that any even small change can throw them off their games. Of course the majority of the time it's all mental, but I could see how it could push him out of his comfort zone, screwing with his confidence. And we all know how important confidence is to a hockey player.

I defended Jagr, now I feel dirty...

[mack 44]

Not sure why he doesn't just candycane them like he did his old sticks, but oh well. Shanahan got over it and learned how to adjust to something new so maybe he can help Jagr out with yet another issue.

[cougarscaptain87 12]

great example with shanahan, he got used to a 100% composite stick from a aluminum rod with a piece of wood attached, a hi tech top of the line skates from an old sloppy leather boot attached to a cheap plastic outsole, and he seems to be doing just fine, but jagr cant adjust to a slight grip change? sounds like a crock of shit to me, maybe he needs to grow the hockey flow/mullet back?

[Chadd 916]

great example with shanahan, he got used to a 100% composite stick from a aluminum rod with a piece of wood attached, a hi tech top of the line skates from an old sloppy leather boot attached to a cheap plastic outsole, and he seems to be doing just fine, but jagr cant adjust to a slight grip change? sounds like a crock of shit to me, maybe he needs to grow the hockey flow/mullet back?

Shanny adapted during the lockout and had something like 16 months, JJ is trying to do it now.

[s Greens 0]

"I don't get it," he said. "I play with the same sticks for 20 years and I have to change it because they stopped making it. I've got no choice. I have to adjust."

wasnt aware that they made ccm vectors 20 years ago. Correct me if i'm wrong but he did use a vector for the last few seasons and was top in scoring?

[DEATHTRON 19]

He could just be referring to the shaft diameter...but more likely he was using a koho shaft for so long, the whole RBK thing happened, they finally decided to stop making them for him, or just ran out of stock. It happens, what I dont understand is why didnt he try out some new twigs during the off season to hopefully find a replacement for his old sticks, he had to know it was coming....

Zach

[jww83 0]

I can understand his point totally. Yes he is a pro and yes he should be able to adapt. Howeve (I know this is a totally different angle but its just an example) but how much of a difference does a curve make when its not the one you are used to? These boards are proof that you get used to something and it works best for you, any slight changes and it takes along time if ever to get used to it. All the time on here people are stating "love the stick, couldn't get used to the curve" or "didn't like the stick, just doesn't feel right - going back to my old one"

Then with pro's where they have the privelege of accessing exactly what they want (maybe not in this case) at the elite level all their equipment is working tailored to their game, when there is variance, they will not perform to their best.

I'm sure its not JUST the grip on the stick, it's probably the overall feel of it screwing him up but thats just how he described it. With his talent he will get used to it, it just may take time or he will have to find a new one. Count me as a vote for his defence haha.

[DarkStar50 679]

When players were using wood sticks, they would get their custom pattern sticks by the dozen. The player would go over the 12 sticks and often reject 4 or more out of the 12. The player's own custom stick didn't feel right. He would refuse to use the stick. He didn't have to adapt because he was a pro. Fast forward to OPS and today's player. Same story, different stick. Each brand of OPS feels different than another. We have all tried different top end OPS that we just didn't feel comfortable with. Can you say Martin St. Louis?

[colt45 0]

but he's using the new Sickick...does that mean that RBK changed the stick along with the graphics...or is this just jagr complaining?

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

I had heard a story, I forgot who told me it.

Back in the day, Louisville sent Yzerman a dozen sticks. He looked at them and rejected them all. Went back to the factory. They repainted the same batch of sticks and sent it back down to Detroit. He said "Those are perfect!"

[stickglovesshirt 0]

i heard a story like that with gary roberts once and his warrior twigs lol

sticks were redipped, they told him they changed the flex and what not.

[Chadd 916]

I had heard a story, I forgot who told me it.

Back in the day, Louisville sent Yzerman a dozen sticks. He looked at them and rejected them all. Went back to the factory. They repainted the same batch of sticks and sent it back down to Detroit. He said "Those are perfect!"

We heard a similar story in Toronto a few years ago

[JGraz15 53]

I guess if you are that good you are allowed to be picky (even if nothing has changed)

[A2rhino 62]

So how long did it take Jags to adjust to 0ne90 skates from his Grafs last year? I dont remember any crying over that.

Maybe some guys who have some of his Pro Stocks can cash in.

[hoffla 22 0]

Shanny adapted during the lockout and had something like 16 months, JJ is trying to do it now.

What kind of curve does Shanny use know? Anyone know?

[mack 44]

That answer is probably in a thread that has nothing to do with it, just like this question is.

[DarkStar50 679]

Shanny adapted during the lockout and had something like 16 months, JJ is trying to do it now.

What kind of curve does Shanny use know? Anyone know?

He is using a Shanahan curve.

Sorry, but after enough bs today, I couldn't resist.

[hoffla 22 0]

yes i realize he uses a shanahan. thanks.

what did he switch his pattern to