Auston Matthews' Stick: P92 or P86? Flex, Curve & Which SOYUZ Fits

Last updated: 10 Nov 2026 · by Andri Farrer

Auston Matthews has scored 69 goals in a single season, won the Rocket Richard Trophy three times and captained Team USA to Olympic gold in February 2026. Shoot like that and everyone wants to copy your stick. The problem: the specs online don't match – Bauer or CCM, P92 or P86, flex 80 or 90? We put every source side by side, measured the blades and tell you which SOYUZ rebuilds his setup. Spoiler: both Matthews curves are in stock with us.

Auston Matthews' stick specs

• Curve: P92 / CCM P29 (Blade 1) as the base, currently listed as P86
• Flex: 80 (several spec checks), pro stock listings 85 and 90
• Hand: left (LH)
• Stick: CCM – most recently Vizion, before that a Jetspeed-based special edition; Bauer Vapor in earlier years
• Size: 191 cm / 98 kg (6'3", 215 lb)
• Team: Toronto Maple Leafs (since 2016), centre and captain since August 2024

Why the sources disagree

With Matthews there is no single spec sheet – just a trail across several years and two brands:

What you can honestly conclude: for years Matthews played a P92 in flex 80 – first with Bauer, then with CCM under the name P29. Since 2025 the P86 shows up in spec checks. Flex ranges from 80 to 90; 80 is the number quoted most often. What every source has in common: left-handed and a mid-toe blade with a long face.

And why Bauer one year and CCM the next? NHL players often use pro stocks dressed in another graphic, and equipment deals change. What's printed on the shaft isn't always what's inside – more in Dressed sticks & pro stock specs explained.

The curve: from P92 to P86

The switch is more interesting than it sounds. Both blades are the same length and carry their curve from the mid to the toe. The difference is in the depth and in how far the face opens at the toe. Here's how the SOYUZ blades look in CAD:

What the numbers show:

• Same length, same height: P29/P92 and P86 are only millimetres apart in length and height. Coming from a P92, you'll feel at home stickhandling with a P86 right away.
• The P86 is flatter: 10.7 mm curve depth instead of 12.1 mm. Less pocket means the puck cradles a little less, but backhands and flat passes are more reliable.
• The P86 is more closed at the toe: 8.4° instead of 11.2°. Wrist shots rise less steeply – they go flatter and harder at the net instead of high over the pads.
• P92 and P29 are the same blade: 0.6 mm difference in depth. At SOYUZ it's called P29 on every model; only the CLASSIC SPR lists it as P92.

For Matthews that makes sense. He doesn't score with lift from distance but with an extremely quick, flat release from the slot, often after changing the shooting angle with a toe drag. A blade that opens a little less keeps the puck on that line. The P86 is basically the P92 for players who'd rather shoot hard and flat than high.

Note on the data: the P86 values come from the CAD file of the SOYUZ P86. In the 3D Curve Lab the P86 family currently still runs on a deeper geometry – the values above are the more accurate ones. Lie values are deliberately left out of the table; our standard blades have the same lie as Bauer and CCM – more in the lie guide.

Overlay P29 and P86 in the 3D Curve Lab →
Compare P29 vs. P92 (CLASSIC SPR) →

All details on the P92/P29 are in the P29/P92 guide, on the P86 in the P86 guide.

The stick: CCM – and which kick point?

Matthews' shaft has changed character three times in recent years – and that's the real information for you, because the kick point decides which SOYUZ fits:

• Bauer Vapor / Flylite: low kick, loads close to the blade and releases fast.
• CCM “FT Ghost” (Jetspeed base): hybrid kick – quick release with enough reserve for the one-timer.
• CCM Vizion: the original Vizion (2025) had an ultra-low kick; the current Vizion (2026) uses a mid kick with a stiff middle section – more power and control.

Which kick point suits your shot is explained in the kick point guide. In short: coming from a CCM Jetspeed, take the HIT GRIT. If you like the current Vizion, the MASTER FRST (mid kick) is your stick. Looking for the quick release of the Vapor years? Go AURORA or STD PRO (low kick).

Flex 80 at 98 kg: the real lesson

This is the part almost everyone misses. Matthews weighs 98 kg (215 lb) and, according to most sources, plays flex 80. That's almost 20 points below his body weight in kilos. He wants a stick that bends instantly on a wrist shot and snaps the puck away without a big wind-up. That's exactly how his goals from the slot happen.

Our rule of thumb: flex ≈ body weight in kg, and when in doubt go lower. Matthews is the best proof. If you weigh 80 kg and mostly shoot off the wrist, flex 75 usually serves you better than 85. Lots of slap shots? You can go a bit stiffer. And remember: every centimetre you cut makes the stick stiffer (cutting or extending). The full chart is in the flex guide.

The player

Born 17 September 1997 in San Ramon, California, drafted first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016. He has been collecting trophies ever since: Calder Trophy 2017, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award 2022, Rocket Richard Trophy 2021, 2022 and 2024. In 2023/24 he scored 69 goals – the record of the salary-cap era. In August 2024 he became the Leafs' first American-born captain, and on 3 January 2026 his 421st goal moved him past Mats Sundin as the franchise's all-time leading goal scorer.

At the 2026 Olympics he captained the USA to gold – 2–1 in overtime against Canada, the first US men's Olympic gold since 1980. Then the setback: in mid-March 2026 he tore his MCL on a knee-on-knee hit, his season was over, and the Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in his career. He's back for the 2026/27 season; after 19 games Toronto stood at 8 wins, 9 regulation losses and 2 overtime losses.

Which SOYUZ fits your Matthews setup?

Blade first: want his classic shape, take the P29 (= Bauer P92). Want his newer, flatter shape, take the P86. Then the shaft – chosen for your game, not for Matthews' graphic:

Stock as of 10 Nov 2026, some variants only in small numbers – see what's available right now in the in-stock collection. Flex 70 and 75 are also in stock in most models.

Custom: P29 and P86 are available on every SOYUZ model from one stick – with your flex (Matthews' 80 included), your length and your name on the shaft, delivery 4–6 weeks: configure your custom stick. And if the P29 feels a touch too low: the P29 +1/4 has a taller blade and can also be ordered from one stick.

By the way, the P29 is a constant at our shop: in our orders P28 and P29 have been on top for months, with the P86 in third place.

My recommendation: for most amateur centres and wingers the HIT GRIT with P29 in flex 75 or 85 is the safest Matthews build – hybrid kick like in his CCM Jetspeed days, and the most-played blade in the world. If you already play a P92/P29 and want to shoot flatter, try the P86: same length, less lift. And pick your flex for your weight and your shot, not for Matthews' 80.

Not sure which shaft suits your shot? The stick finder recommends the right SOYUZ model in five questions.

FAQ

What curve does Auston Matthews use?

For years a P92 (P29 at CCM, Blade 1) – he described it as the “Joe Sakic curve”. Newer spec checks since 2025 list him with a P86. Both blades are the same length; the P86 is slightly flatter and less open at the toe.

What flex does Auston Matthews use?

Mostly flex 80, with 85 and 90 also showing up in pro stock listings. At 98 kg (215 lb) that's well below his body weight – he relies on a whippy stick for a quick release.

Is Matthews a left or right shot?

Left shot (LH).

What stick does Auston Matthews use?

Most recently a CCM Vizion, before that a CCM special edition built on the Jetspeed. Older spec checks show a Bauer Vapor / Flylite.

Is the P29 the same as the P92?

Practically, yes. CCM calls the blade P29, Bauer calls it P92. At SOYUZ it's the P29; measured, P29 and P92 are only fractions of a millimetre apart.

Can I buy Matthews' setup at ABSHockey?

Yes: the P29 in left-handed flex 85 is in stock in all seven SOYUZ senior models, the P86 in five. As a custom stick you get both on any SOYUZ model from one stick, flex 80 included.

Related curves and spec checks

• P29 / P92 curve measured
• P86 / PRO9246 in detail
• Macklin Celebrini's stick: P86 or P28?
• Nathan MacKinnon's stick: P92, flex 95
• P28 vs P29 (and P92): which curve fits you?
• Hockey stick kick points explained

Sources: Hockey Stick Man (Auston Matthews Stick Spec Check, 9 Mar 2026; Crosby vs Matthews Stick Spec Check, 27 Feb 2025); HockeyMonkey (“What Stick Does Auston Matthews Use?”, 31 Jan 2025); BarDown (“Auston Matthews reveals how he chooses his stick flex and curve”); SidelineSwap (pro stock listing CCM Vizion LH 85 P86; game-used CCM Vizion with Maple Leafs certificate); Wikipedia (biography, 2026 Olympics, March 2026 injury); TSN (9 Nov 2026). CAD values from SOYUZ blade data (ABSHockey Curve Lab). Stock and order data: ABSHockey, as of 10 Nov 2026. Header image: our own illustration based on SOYUZ blade renderings.