Kopitar pattern/ P92 with closed face?

[Cosmic 178]

When I play Forward, I use a Kopitar pattern. I like this pattern for everything, except pass reception. When I place the blade in a default position to catch passes, then the passes often find their way over the open face and get behind me. I know, catch with the heel, but easier said than done when moving through traffic with sticks wacking at the puck and obstacles in front of me. And then, if I angle the blade/face down a bit as I am about to catch a pass, then the puck often finds its way under the blade. So, is there an equivalent of a Kopitar pattern, all specs identical (lie, toe, curve, etc.), except for closed face?

For further clarity, if we are following the descriptors of the Blade Pattern charts, then I think I am looking for:

Curve: Mid (between 1/2-9/16 inch)

Depth: Medium

Face angle: Closed

Length: Medium

Lie 4.5-5 in Warrior, which i think is 5.5-6 in everything else

* Rocker: Minimal to None

** Dual Lie: unnecessary, as I think this will screw up my pass reception even more

I have only used Warrior Dynasty AXT1 Zetterberg/ Kopitar since having gotten back into hockey. I have no idea what I used to use, and do not recall having had these options back in the day. All in all, I am very satisfied, just want to address this pass reception issue when I play Forward, and am willing to sacrifice the ease of shot lift that I have been enjoying with Kopitar.

So basically, something that looks like this (PM89), but close the face, with lie 6:

Credit for photos: noodle3872

[Chadd 916]

Simply tilt the face of the blade down a bit when catching passes, it will trap the puck and prevent the puck from jumping over the blade. I am not aware of any retail blade that is truly "closed".

[yianni54 2]

Kopitar definitely not closed

[jisatsu 4]

I have a warrior kovalchuk that is almost identical to my hall/sakic/kopitar curves, but with a more closed face. Maybe look into that?

[CTB 32]

Isn't the the Toews (P14) pattern basically a less open version of the Kopitat/Backstrom/Hall?

The blade chart description sounds more like the Kane (P88) pattern than any of the mid/toe curve options.

[Amiroo39 121]

I have a warrior kovalchuk that is almost identical to my hall/sakic/kopitar curves, but with a more closed face. Maybe look into that?

The Warrior Kovalchuk is closer to an Iginla than a Hall/E3. I personally loved the Kovy and think its a great curve, however it's a shorter flatter pattern so I'd say its closer to P7 than a P3.

[Cosmic 178]

I have a warrior kovalchuk that is almost identical to my hall/sakic/kopitar curves, but with a more closed face. Maybe look into that?

I am just seeing this now. I have already placed the order for the Ignilas, which are en route. I think I might have preferred the Kovalchuk, but what can ya do?

[Amiroo39 121]

I have a warrior kovalchuk that is almost identical to my hall/sakic/kopitar curves, but with a more closed face. Maybe look into that?

The kovalchuk and kopitar are very different patterns. When comparing the Kovalchuck to the Draper/Kopitar the Kovalchuk has a lower lie(4vs5), Kovy has less of rocker, length of blade (kovy is medium, kopitar is long), and the kovalchuck is a closed curve vs open with the kopitar.

I am just seeing this now. I have already placed the order for the Ignilas, which are en route. I think I might have preferred the Kovalchuk, but what can ya do?

So Cosmic from your original post, I think going with Iginla was a good choice and met your criteria more so than the Kovalchuk.

[gxc999 7]

Simply tilt the face of the blade down a bit when catching passes, it will trap the puck and prevent the puck from jumping over the blade. I am not aware of any retail blade that is truly "closed".

This is the proper solution, folks. No need to buy new gear here.

[Cosmic 178]

This is the proper solution, folks. No need to buy new gear here.

This works most of the time. Problem is that hard passes sneak through underneath the paddle when I tile the face down. And as I think I mentioned, when I am skating through traffic and someone sends me a pass that is slightly offline, my hands are not that adept that I can receive the pass.

The kovalchuk and kopitar are very different patterns. When comparing the Kovalchuck to the Draper/Kopitar the Kovalchuk has a lower lie(4vs5), Kovy has less of rocker, length of blade (kovy is medium, kopitar is long), and the kovalchuck is a closed curve vs open with the kopitar.

So Cosmic from your original post, I think going with Iginla was a good choice and met your criteria more so than the Kovalchuk.

I actually want less rocker. The rocker is not helping me. I whiff on too many passes and wristers because I forget to roll my wrists to compensate for the rocker. From what I am learning, the only thing about the Kovalchuk that is not ideal is that lower lie. When I play F, I like to have a higher lie to keep the puck closer to me and be able to finish those pucks that are coming to me and getting in tight to my body. Is a 5.0 vs. 5.5 lie really that significant a difference? Not sure. From what I am seeing tho, I think that the Kovalchuk hook (which looks great for wristshots, which I take a lot of when I play F) might benefit me more than the Iginla hook (which is more subdued). I use Zetterberg for D, but I am thinking the Kovalchuk would even be better than this (for me). I can't believe that I missed this when I was doing my "research." I think I just wrote off the Kovalchuk curve without investigating it because I associated him with getting caught for illegal curve, and I saw all the Crazy Ovie/ Kovalev patters and just figured that the Russians like wild curves, and I am not a wild curve guy at all. But yea the Kovalcuk is looking good to me now. Oh well, maybe in the future after I shred through my present stash.

[Chadd 916]

This works most of the time. Problem is that hard passes sneak through underneath the paddle when I tile the face down. And as I think I mentioned, when I am skating through traffic and someone sends me a pass that is slightly offline, my hands are not that adept that I can receive the pass.

When you tilt the face down and forward, it removes the rocker and makes just about the full length of the face is flat on the ice. If something is "sneaking underneath", then you need to put more pressure down on the blade.