[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Yeah I'm still thinking along these lines.

Good players don't just forget how to play. There's gotta be something behind all this, nagging injury or something.

If he did indeed run out of his regular sticks permanently, as was previously mentioned, then it could be a mental adjustment matter. He is getting looks, some good ones too. They are just not going in.

Original Post

Neal's shot looks like crap for a sniper, so I did a little digging. I read somewhere that his "normal" stick was discontinued (Easton Mako) and he couldn't get it anymore, but I can't find the article. Supposedly, he recently ran out of the stockpile of his stick or something, so he's trying to find a replacement. Keep in mind, this is kinda huge when you realize that hockey players are apparently creatures of habit and are perhaps a little superstitious about their equipment sometimes to the point of ensuring that their hockey sticks are taped in a very specific manner.

Which Sticks are Scoring in the NHL? | The Hockey Gear Blog
Per this, Neal was using an Easton Mako once upon a time. I think it coincides with PSG going bankrupt ?(original owner of Easton and Bauer)

James Neal
Per this, he has switched to a Bauer Supreme 2S Pro

This, and I believe Neal is the type to start slow and get stronger as the season is longer... might be why I think he isn't looking great.

Player's Tribune: James Neal

Honestly, the feel of my stick is everything. I get a little bit OCD about my sticks before the game. It has to be just the way I want it or I won’t feel comfortable on the ice. The second I pick up a stick from the rack and I put it down, I can tell if it’s right or not. The feel of the flex is the most important thing. Also, the curve of the blade and the way that it’s taped. Everything matters. When I tape my stick, I use thick white tape and I wrap it from heel to toe. I leave a little bit of the toe untaped, because that’s where I usually release my shot from.

It’s not just the feel of it, it’s the visual, too.

Visual points are very important to a shooter. Typically, you’re looking down at your stick when you shoot the puck. The way the puck sits on your blade and how it looks to you is a very big thing, as strange as that may sound. That’s why guys are very particular about using white or black tape. If I had to play with black tape on my blade, I’d freak out. It’s kind of like what would happen if you came into the office and they switched your computer keyboard for another one. You’d just be uncomfortable, you know? You wouldn’t have any flow.