As an Amazon Associate, The Hockey Gods earns from qualifying purchases made through the links in this post. Gear details are current as of opening night of the 2026-27 season and are based on brand announcements and public gear tracking. NHL players change equipment often, so we'll update this post as things change.
The NHL's 2026-27 season opens tonight, and it's the league's first 84-game season since 1993-94. Every season brings the same question from fans and players: what stick does McDavid actually use? What skates is Makar wearing? Below is the gear behind seven of the biggest names in the game, but first, three things every fan should know before buying a pro's gear.
Three Things to Know First
Endorsements are paid deals. When a star signs with CCM, Bauer, or Sherwood, the brand is paying for him to wear and promote its gear. That doesn't make the gear bad — these companies make excellent equipment — but an endorsement is marketing, not an independent review.
Pros use pro-stock gear, not what's on the store shelf. NHL sticks are built to each player's exact specs: custom curve, flex, length, and grip. Brands also sometimes put the newest retail graphic on a player's older preferred build, so the name on the stick doesn't always match what's inside it. The retail version shares the name and technology, not necessarily the exact specs.
Players switch. Deals expire, players experiment, and some stars mix brands on purpose. Several players on this list have changed gear in just the last couple of seasons.
Connor McDavid — Edmonton Oilers
Brand: CCM. McDavid is a CCM global ambassador. His partnership calls for him to wear and train exclusively in CCM equipment and to help CCM design new gear. He's long been associated with CCM's JetSpeed line, and gear trackers currently list him in a JetSpeed FT8 Pro stick and JetSpeed skates. JetSpeed is CCM's line built around quick release and speed, which fits the fastest skater in the league. Shop CCM JetSpeed sticks → Shop CCM JetSpeed skates →
Sidney Crosby — Pittsburgh Penguins
Brand: CCM. Crosby has been one of CCM's main endorsers for years. He currently wears CCM Tacks XF Pro skates, and his stick carries CCM's Ribcor Reckoner graphic. His stick is the best example of the pro-stock point above. CCM sells a retail curve named after him, but his actual game curve is nearly straight, closest to a P14, not the retail P29 "Crosby" curve. He's also typically used a very stiff flex, 100 or higher, and he's stuck with old-school leather gloves for most of his career. Shop CCM Ribcor sticks → Shop CCM Tacks skates →
Cale Makar — Colorado Avalanche
Brand: Bauer. Makar is Bauer head to toe and has been featured heavily in Bauer's marketing. Gear trackers list him in a Bauer Nexus Tracer stick, Supreme Shadow skates, and Vapor HyperLite gloves. He's used a mid-curve pattern similar to a P88 since his youth hockey days, with a fairly stiff flex. (For more on Makar, see our post on his contract and NHL salary trends.) Shop Bauer Nexus sticks → Shop Bauer Supreme skates →
Nathan MacKinnon — Colorado Avalanche
Brand: a mix. MacKinnon is the league's most interesting gear story. He spent most of his career as one of CCM's most loyal athletes, then surprised everyone in October 2023 by switching to Bauer sticks, and later Bauer gloves. He's kept wearing CCM skates the whole time. Gear trackers have logged him bouncing between stick brands since, but his current setup is a Bauer Nexus Sync stick with his long-preferred P92 curve, Bauer gloves, and CCM skates. It's a reminder that even superstars shop around for what feels right. Shop Bauer Nexus Sync sticks → Shop CCM skates →
Auston Matthews — Toronto Maple Leafs
Brand: Bauer (for now). Matthews has come full circle. Bauer signed him to an exclusive deal in 2016, before he was drafted. He later became one of CCM's most prominent ambassadors, then started showing up in Bauer skates during the 2024-25 season and was back in full Bauer gear during 2025-26: Vapor FlyLite skates, Vapor HyperLite gloves, and a Bauer stick. NHL insider Jeff Marek reported that Matthews was without an equipment deal at the time and exploring Bauer. We haven't found an official announcement of a new deal, so treat his brand status as unsettled. Shop Bauer Vapor sticks → Shop Bauer Vapor skates →
Matthew Tkachuk — Florida Panthers
Brand: Sherwood, with a mix. Tkachuk is one of Sherwood's biggest ambassadors, using a Sherwood Code Encrypt Pro stick and Sherwood gloves. The rest of his gear is a mix: Bauer Vapor HyperLite 2 skates and a CCM Super Tacks X helmet. His pro-stock sticks use a custom curve with a tall, max-height blade that helps with faceoffs, tips, and battles in front of the net. This season he's joined in Florida by his brother Brady, who uses TRUE sticks. Same family, same jersey, different gear. Shop Sherwood Code sticks →
Brandon Bussi — Carolina Hurricanes
The goalie. Bussi starts in net tonight against the team that put him on waivers. Florida waived him in October 2025, Carolina claimed him, and he became a Stanley Cup hero for the Hurricanes, going 3-1 in the Final against Vegas. We couldn't confirm his current pad brand, which says something about goalie gear: at the pro level, pads, gloves, and blockers are custom-built, and masks are personal works of art. Bussi's mask, for example, features puzzle pieces for autism awareness, a cause he's said is personal to him. For goalies at every level, fit and mobility matter far more than whose name is on the pads. (See our post on the butterfly style to learn why modern goalie gear looks the way it does.) See our pick for goalie stick tape →
What This Means for Your Game
Don't copy a pro's flex. NHL players are extremely strong, and many use flexes of 85 to 105 or higher. Most recreational players shoot better with a softer stick they can actually bend. A common starting point is a flex around half your body weight in pounds, adjusted from there based on feel.
Curve names aren't universal. A P92 from one brand can feel different from another brand's closest match. If you can, try a teammate's stick or a shop's demo stick before buying.
Buy the line, not the logo. Every major line comes in senior, intermediate, junior, and youth sizes, and at several price points below the top model. The mid-level version of a pro's stick often gives recreational players most of the benefit at a much lower price.
Fit beats brand for skates. Bauer, CCM, and TRUE boots fit different foot shapes differently. The best skate is the one that fits your foot, whatever the stars are wearing.
Shopping for a hockey player this season? Our Holiday Gift Guide covers the gear that's easy to get right, and our Pro Shop has categories for every major piece of equipment.