Bauer and the future of the Stealth stick?

[A2rhino 63]

I know it may be a bit premature, but does anyone have any info on the future of the Stealth elliptical sticks now that Bauer has acquired Easton hockey? Will Bauer kill this technology or keep it alive?

[All Flash 49]

My guess says at best they will use inferior materials compared to Bauer sticks and just keep making the same stick. All while using any new tech they found in the sale to upgrade their own products. Still kinda sad to think Easton will be gone entirely someday. 

[A2rhino 63]

My hope was that they would transfer the Stealth to the future Vapor line.  My guess was that the Stealth sticks did better in the NHL than the Vapor sticks did. Always saw many, many more Nexus and Supremes.

[crazyhick 19]

From what I've heard from our rep, that's the line that they are really interested in keeping. It's just a matter of time for them to implement it

[Mimizk 114]

Probably you think the same thing to me.

I love the Elliptical Tapered sticks too. Really good for current wrist/quick release shots which are using shaft's torque and flex. The great ability have been certified many NHL players and tests.

 

Perhaps this is little pessimistic thinking though, I'm feeling that Easton will be killed completely until few years later...  I've heard that Easton can release their named items at least this year (I don't have any sauce, just heard) but often cause on similar situation that bought company could survive their name and release items first 1~3years but trashed after that expect their patent and know-how.

"Easton was bought by Bauer". Unfortunately but this is true. I hope that even if Bauer will kill Easton's name, don't waste Easton's knowledge. I really hope so.

 

I heard that machines which had been Easton's factory are being moved to Bauer's factory now. So it will be after August~September or more later if there is a possibility we can see Easton's products again.

Repeating myself though, I don't have any sauce of these information. But I heard almost same thing from other 2 persons. I'm waiting for the day I can take their stick again.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I'm not sure what the final plan is. 

 

Easton was a part of the Bauer booth at the PHATS/SPHEM show last week (pro equipment managers tradeshow.)

[A2rhino 63]

Not being an expert from the industry my any means. However as a long time gearhead as most on this site are, I'd like to think that in all reality the Stealth elliptical stick is really all that Easton had to offer in the sense of unique technology. As a Easton Stealth user I would like to think that Bauer would keep this alive and improve the sticks durability and performance.

[60PlusWinger 82]

Bauer was planning on keeping the name around until they reached out to stores like pure hockey, hockey monkey and more asking them if they would be interested in carrying Easton sticks if Bauer kept making them and most actually said no...

 

Without a retail market for Easton it also makes it tough to justify keeping Easton around in pro if it's not helping sales but with 140+ pros still using Easton stuff it's nieve to think they will just convert to Bauer by default. My buddy is playing for a Bauer team over seas and was offered custom Bauer OR custom Easton but there wasn't even anyone to reach out because all the reps were fired. I think it's safe to say that Easton isn't going to be around for much longer and I think Bauers stick line is doing just fine without Easton influence.

 

The pro side isn't exactly a good indicator of what sticks are working or not since a lot of them are so resistant to change and the unfamiliar. I think just like new curve trends you will see the same thing regarding what stick models are being used. Young guys in college will be offered certain stuff and if they like it they will probably continue to. 

 

Ex. Ekblad in APX2

Larkin in 1N

Eichel in MX3

Duclair APXSE

Seguin APX

 

where you sometimes see older players typically using stuff closer to years back. But I know Getzlaf is using the true 1X.