What Stick does Connor McDavid use? (CCM Brand)

The hockey sticks featured in this post consist of the lightest models made by CCM. Based on CCM official specs and my own experience, each one excels at certain shooting styles and other facets of the game.

Year after year, McDavid continues to show his dominance over the rest of the league. In 2022-23, he finished with 64 goals and 153 points overall during the regular season.

The only players to ever score more points than McDavid in a season remain at Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman. That's it!

He's a dynamic player with one of the deadliest shots and hands in the league.

There's no doubt that raw talent plays a role in his ability to score on a whim.

But let's not leave out the contributions from the advancements made in hockey equipment, especially the hockey sticks.

The last 20+ years has been a revolutionary phase for hockey sticks.

We originally went from wooden sticks, to two-piece aluminum shafts to the composites of today.

Furthermore, the sticks have gotten lighter without the compromise on durability.

The early days was a speed to who can develop the most weightless stick. But along the way, certain features were added to give a natural feel and improve the player's ability to shoot.

I am specifically talking here about features such as stick flex, kick point, blade curve and lie.

As for Connor McDavid, he does have a preference in stick model and its set of features.

What Stick does Connor McDavid Use?

Connor McDavid began the 2023-24 season with the CCM Jetspeed FT6 Pro model. The stick is made of Nanolite Shield Carbon Layering which makes the shaft extremely lightweight and durable. This model is the leading option amongst all NHL players with its hybrid kick point which offers a balance between shot power and quick release. 

I provide comparative specs below, but the main highlight of the latest Jetspeed pro line stick is the weight reduction - it weighs 365g, which amount to 30g less than the previous generation.

1. CCM Jetspeed FT6 Pro (US | CAN)

Used also by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins & Taylor Hall

As mentioned above, Connor McDavid used an alternate stick earlier in the season. In fact, he was switching back-and-forth between both during that time span.

The other model in question was the CCM Tacks AS-VI Pro (US | CAN).

If you're not sure about the difference, I explain it below. But the main feature in question is the kick point.

Other aspects of his stick that come up include the stick flex and blade curve.

Let's take a deeper look...

Stick Flex and Kick Point Explained

McDavid's choice  described his choice in stick based on feel, his main reasons are likely is based on quick release and shot power. 

His preferred shot type is either wrist shots or snapshots. Matthews has pointed out that he rarely uses a slap shot for shot selection.

In fact, 67% of all NHL goals are scored both off wrist shots and snapshots combined. For a summary of how most NHL goals are scored, check out my blog post here.

To achieve both quick release and power on the shot, the main contribution from the stick comes from the stick flex and the kick point. 

What Stick Flex does Connor McDavid Use?

McDavid uses an 85 stick flex because he likes the feel of a stiffer shaft. Furthermore, as a centerman, he can use the rigidity to help win puck possession off the faceoff. 

Here's the official video where him and other players address their preferred stick flex.

Generally, the ideal stick flex is related to each player's weight.

The most basic way to determine your stick flex is to take your weight in pounds (lbs) and divide by two. 

The resulting score will land on the exact stick flex required or between two available options. The lower the stick flex value, the more flexible your stick is.

Keep in mind that cutting your stick will increase the stick flex value, regardless of what is described on the stick.

What Kick Point does Connor McDavid use?

Meanwhile, the kick point is the portion of the shaft that snaps the blade back into place on the follow through of a shot.

The kick point is designed at the lower end of the shaft. When the shaft pops back into place, that is when the puck propels to the net.

I think a low kick point option would work best to generate the most power on his wrist shot.

However, McDavid has just transitioned from the mid kick (Tacks) down to the hybrid (Jetspeed). 

It's still not the lowest kick point option that most other forwards gravitate to, but it's a definite improvement.

The hybrid kick point is a balance between shot power and quick release.

But it's understandable why he started off with the mid kick. He had a slight edge in strength when battling for the puck on the face off.

Keep in mind that most defensemen lean towards the mid kick to give them an edge on puck battles too.

That said, I provided the details for the other premium sticks offered by CCM. Read the features and likes to determine which option is most suitable for your needs.

Final Thoughts

When I was growing up, the cool thing was to practice my slapshot.

Little did I know that it played a minimal role in scoring, especially for forwards.

And that was back then.

Today’s game is all about speed. Not just in skating, but in shot release.  

The fastest ways to shoot the puck is by wrist shots, snapshots and one-timers. Again, you can refer to my blog post here about How Most NHL Goals are Scored. 

The NHL stats show that wrist shots and snapshots make up the bulk of the goals.

And the top goal scorers, such as Connor McDavid, have the hardest, most precise shots in the game.

It is up to you to mimic their tactics. 

And what better way than to do so by working with the same weapon (stick) of choice.