Kane Curve or P88 Pattern – The Most Balanced Curve in Hockey
P88 Curve (Kane Curve) – the Most Balanced Blade in Hockey
Few curves are as universally popular as the P88. It's the standard every other blade gets measured against: not extreme, not specialised, just reliable. If someone in a shop tells you “just take the P88, you can't go wrong” – that's not a dodge, it's fairly good advice.
The P88 at a Glance
| Trait | P88 |
|---|---|
| Curve type | Mid – curvature in the middle of the blade |
| Face (loft) | Moderately open, neutral |
| Toe shape | Round |
| Blade length | Medium |
| Lie | Usually 6 |
| Difficulty | Easy – very forgiving |
| Ideal for | All-rounders, two-way forwards, defencemen, beginners |
First Things First: Does Patrick Kane Even Play a P88?
No. And that isn't a footnote – it's probably the most common misconception around this blade.
We held Kane's real pro stock blade. It carries the code PRO1088, descends from the old retail P10 “Shanahan” and has a square toe – the retail P88 has a round one. Side by side, the two blades look clearly different.
None of this makes the P88 any worse. It just means: buy it because it suits you – not because of the name on the packaging.
Technical Characteristics
Mid Curve
A true mid curve – neither heel- nor toe-weighted. The puck sits where you expect it while stickhandling, and it doesn't drift unexpectedly toward the tip when you shoot.
Moderately Open Face
Enough loft for a natural shot trajectory, but without the automatic lift of a P92 or P28. Your shots go where you aim – not where the blade sends them. That's why it has a reputation for precision.
Round Toe
The most underrated advantage of the P88. A round toe helps with intercepting bouncing pucks, with poke checks and with handling in tight spaces – everywhere a pointed or square blade lets the puck tip away.
Medium Blade Length
The balance between handling, passing and shooting. Short blades are more agile, long ones give more surface – the P88 deliberately sits in between.
Lie 6
Suits the neutral skating stance of most players. If you skate very upright or very low, it's worth a look at the flex and lie guide.
Strengths and Weaknesses
| Where it's strong | Where it's weaker |
|---|---|
| Very precise wrist and snap shots | Less automatic lift than a P92 |
| Controlled stickhandling | Toe shots not as explosive as on a P28 |
| Clean pass reception | Possibly too neutral for pure snipers |
| Excellent backhand | No “wow factor” – it doesn't stand out |
| No surprises on the shot | – |
Which Type of Player Is It For?
- Centres and wingers with an all-round game: balance between stickhandling, passing and shooting.
- Two-way forwards: stability in every situation, in both directions.
- Defencemen: easy chipping, safe passes from the blue line, good control on shots out of a turn.
- Beginners and young players: the neutrality helps you learn technique cleanly instead of masking mistakes.
- Players coming off extreme curves: anyone who never warmed to a P28 often ends up here.
P88 + ¼ – the Raised Version
We also offer the P88 as a P88 + ¼: the same base shape, but with a raised blade and therefore slightly more blade surface. Useful if the standard P88 basically suits you but you'd like a bit more area for pass reception and puck coverage.
You'll find this option in our Pro Custom configuration. 👉 To the configurator
P88 Compared to PM9, P92 and P28
| Curve | Type | Difficulty | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM9 | Heel | Easy | Maximum control, best backhand | Barely any lift, no toe play |
| P88 | Mid | Easy | Precision, handling, control | Less automatic height |
| P92 | Mid, open | Medium | Easy high shots, good one-timers | Shots rise quickly |
| P28 | Toe | High | Toe release, quick shots | Passing and backhand harder |
The order in that table doubles as a learning curve: PM9 and P88 forgive mistakes, P92 and P28 reward technique and punish sloppiness.
When the P88 Almost Fits – but Not Quite
A common pattern: players like the control of a P88 but want more bite on the shot. That's exactly what the pro derivatives built on the P88 are for.
The best-known example is the P71, sold as the “Malkin Pro”: from the heel onward largely a P88, but with a toe hook in the last quarter of the blade. You keep the backhand and the pass reception and gain extra help up front on quick shots. → Malkin's stick in detail
The other route leads to the P28 – there the curvature builds gradually toward the tip, with a far more open toe. That's the bigger jump.
Verdict
The P88 isn't a blade that impresses you. It's a blade that works – in every position, in every situation, at every level. Its greatest advantage is also what makes it unspectacular: it does exactly what you expect.
It's the right choice if you want precise wrist shots, value maximum puck control, or simply want a neutral all-round pattern that never surprises you.
Not sure whether the P88 fits your game? Take our 2-minute stick finder and find your model.
