Right- vs. Left-handed players
- Thread starter Tomtefar
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Algernop Kreider
Ant strength
I would argue that left-catching goalies should be considered right-handed. Also, as do you really think Crawford is the 3rd best goalie in the league?
Hammettf2b
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Yeah maybe you're right. I kind of like Crawford for some reason but maybe Lundquist, Halak, Price, Rask is better.
Alexander the Gr8
Registered User
A left catching goalie has a left handed curve on it and is held with the right hand at the top of the stick and the left hand in the middle of the shaft. You can argue it all you want but you are wrong.
Alexander the Gr8
Registered User
Right handed people catch with their left hand in baseball and hockey most of the time. In Canada, you are taught to play with your dominant hand on top for better puck control. That's why most players use left handed sticks.
They're both better than Ekblad. Wouldn't replace Shattenkirk with Petro though because Shattenkirk has largely outplayed Pietrangelo. I'd probably say Stralman if you plan on leaving Ekblad.
RiceCooker
"We Got Some Looks"
Algernop Kreider
Ant strength
There's a reason for this. The majority of all players are right handed. However, a lot of them, including most Canadiens, put their dominant hand on the top of the stick to make stickhandling easier.
This is why Patrick Kane (a left-shooting righty) is the best American stickhandler. (American players are more likely to put their dominant hand on the bottom of the stick)
It's also why right-shooting righties like Ovi and Stamkos are better shooters than their counterparts.
Hockey Joe
Registered User
Calling players right and left handed based on their stick position is stupid to begin with. Most people are right handed yet there are more "left-handed" players. Why? Because the right hand controls the stick.
It's been a pet-peeve of mine since I was a little kid.
Calling players right and left handed based on their stick position is stupid to begin with. Most people are right handed yet there are more "left-handed" players. Why? Because the right hand controls the stick.
It's been a pet-peeve of mine since I was a little kid.
Sooooooooooo what are you arguing exactly? The OP list's a bunch of players that shoot left handed on one team and right handed on the other. For goalies he includes goalies that catch with their left hand and use a stick that is left handed and goalies that catch with their right hand and use a right handed stick on their appropriate teams. Then this guy says:
To which I replied that all the above players on the Left handed team have their right hand on top of the stick and their left hand in the middle and the opposite being true for the other team, rendering his argument invalid.
Side note: I agree with both of you I play hockey "left-handed" personally because I like having more control at the top of my stick and when you have one hand on your stick it's my right. However what you both say is true for most of Canada but the opposite here in the states. Most players play "right-handed" on this side of the border for whatever reason, probably simply because it is called "Right-Handed". Also because other sports that may be learned at an earlier age in America (Mainly Baseball) but golf as well, most people bat, or swing Righty as well, which develops that swinging motion on that side more naturally in those sports on that side, as well as getting used to having your dominant hand closer to the shaft then the end of the bat or club.
Alexander the Gr8
Registered User
Yeah exactly. I'd say that having your dominant hand on top makes you better in stick handling, but having it at the bottom gives you a harder and more accurate shot. Hence, the lefties are usually better at stick handling and the righties are better at shooting.
Best stickhandlers in the game : Datsyuk, Malkin, Kane, Crosby, Duchene, Tavares (mostly lefties)
Best shooters in the game : Ovechkin, Stamkos, Perry, Kovalchuk, Kessel, Semin (mostly righties)
This has always been my general thought process too. In general it seems that way and even at lower levels it is noticeable where the skill ranges can be used.
I'm pretty sure this holds true for Art Ross and Rocket Richard winners as well
For the Rocket, since the expansion era the Rocket has been won or shared by a right handed player 30 times by 17 different Rightys. The only Righty with more then 3 is Ovechkin, he has 4. 24 times for lefties by 11 players. 6 of them are Phil Esposito, 5 are Gretzky.
The Art Ross has been won by a Righty 13 times, by 6 players, in the same time period and 6 of them are Lemieux. And 32 times by a Lefty, notables are Esposito with 5, Gretzky with 10, and Jagr with 4.
It amazes me that from to 1980-1994 only Lemieux or Gretzky won the Art Ross, Jagr won in 94, then Lemieux won twice again and Jagr won 4 more straight. So between 1980 and 2001!!! only 3 players won that trophy.
Hockey Joe
Registered User
I'm saying people should stop saying right/left handed players and say right/left shooter instead. I know it's never gonna happen but I had to get it off my chest.
Was just thinking the same thing. Or left-handed / right-handed shot (shooter).
I think there was a discussion about Howard and this - and I was wondering when posters would talk about left/right-handed catching / blocking glove OR which side they shoot on.
Some goalies catch with their right hand and the blocker is the left-hand but then some have to switch their goal stick around (when they shoot the puck).
IT helps to mention left or right-handed shot. For goalies, also. 
chasespace
Registered User
I've read this else where but I cannot fathom playing with my right hand up top. In baseball I was always taught that the strong hand is the fulcrum thus it goes at the top(bottom on a hockey stick). Does having your strong hand on the top of a hockey stick really give you better control or is it more of a personal feel?
I'm not sure about the the feel. I really think it has a lot to do with how you grab the stick for the first time. That was the case for me. I shoot left but I'm a righty.
When it comes to baseball, I can actually go either way. In regards to observations made above... I find it that I can hit the ball much harder when I wind with the right but, I'm much more accurate when winding with my left.
Alexander the Gr8
Registered User
Having the dominant hand on top would make one handed maneuvers such as the poke check or the windmill deke a lot easier for a beginner.
I'm right handed in the everyday life for almost everything and I play hockey with a right handed stick.
I can stickhandle and take a very soft wrist shot with a left handed stick, but there's no way I'll be able to crank a cannon slap shot with my left hand.
I decided to play right handed as a kid because I learned to lift the puck in the air that way first. Muscle memory makes it nearly impossible to shift your handedness. Once you learn to do something a certain way (like a left-handed kid forced to learn to write with his right hand) you can't change.
