The Canucks superstar is looking for every edge he can get.
Skating was one of the few areas in which Elias Pettersson supposedly wasn’t elite when he was drafted. His skating was described as good or above average, with the highest praise being “efficient.” When he hit the NHL, however, he quickly established that he could skate with the best in the league.
Pettersson showed blazing speed at the fastest skater competition during All-Star Weekend, and was shifty and elusive with his quick changes in direction and puck control through the neutral zone and in the offensive zone. Clearly, skating is one of many areas where Pettersson refuses to simply be “above average.”
The question is, can his skating get even better?
It’s certainly possible. Improved strength and conditioning will help, certainly, and even the best skaters can make small adjustments to their technique to get even better. Canucks fans have seen the improvements Bo Horvat has made by working with skating coach Kathy McLlwain; Pettersson could similarly work with a power skating coach to refine his stride.
There’s another aspect to his skating, however, that Pettersson is paying attention to this off-season: his skates.
Professional hockey players pay close attention to the minute details of their equipment, whether it’s getting just the right flex, kick point, lie, and curve on their stick or picking the perfect gloves that provide the right mix of protection and flexibility. That extend to a player’s skates as well, from the fit of the boot around the foot to how the blade is sharpened.
Beyond how it is sharpened, there’s one other component to a skate blade: its profile. Just like the profile of a face, the profile of a skate blade is how it looks from the side.
A profile is described as a radius in feet. Think of the blade itself as a small portion of a very large circle. A standard profile for a hockey skate is 13’: the blade has the curve of a circle with a 13-foot radius.
Different profiles affect how much of the skate blade is in contact with the ice at any one time. The bigger the radius, the more blade is touching the ice. A bigger radius provides more stability, while a smaller radius can provide quicker changes in direction. Figure skaters use a much smaller radius — typically 7’ to 9’ — than a hockey player for this reason.
Over the years, however, skate profiles have become more complex. Instead of just a single radius, players use skates with combinations of radiuses. This can be a combination of two radiuses — a smaller radius towards the front of the blade for quicker acceleration and a bigger radius on the back of the blade for better balance and speed — but doesn’t stop there. Skate profiles can be a combination of three radiuses or even four radiuses to provide small improvements in acceleration, agility, speed, and balance.
In a promotional video for ProSharp, a Swedish skate sharpening company, Elias Pettersson tested out a few different skate profiles while practicing with Timra IK, his Allsvenskan team from his draft year. His friend and former Canucks prospect Jonathan Dahlen can be spotted chatting with Pettersson at the 1:07 mark of the video. Dahlen is returning to Sweden to play for Timra next season.
“I’ve been skating on the Detroit 2 profile for some years now,” said Pettersson. “Always thought it felt good.”
That’s a surprise, as the Detroit 2 profile isn’t the typical choice for a slick offensive player like Pettersson. In fact, it’s a common profile for goaltenders.
“More for heavy defensive players,” says ProSharp in reference to the Detroit 2 profile. “Great backwards skating. Also, a good goalie profile.”
Pettersson isn’t exactly a heavy defensive player (or a goalie), so making a change in profile could make a significant difference to his skating. When asked why he was testing out different profiles, Pettersson said, “I feel that I need more grip in the tight turns. Sometimes I lose the grip in those tight turns.”
After trying “6-7 different profiles,” Pettersson landed on the Quad Zero, a profile that combines four different radiuses along the blade: 6’ up front for acceleration, 9’ behind that for better mobility in turns, then 11’ for speed, and finally 13’ at the back for stability. It's a profile designed for "elusive" skilled players, so it's right up Pettersson's alley.
“I liked the Quad Zero the best,” said Pettersson, and when asked if he will use it in the upcoming season, he smiled and then laughed. “It’s going to be a switch. It will be a switch today already.”
Is this going to completely change the way Pettersson skates? Of course not, but it could provide small improvements in key areas, and those small improvements can make a big difference for a player like Pettersson that can take advantage of even the smallest gaps on the ice. If he can get better grip in tight turns without losing any straight-ahead speed, Pettersson could become even more of a nightmare for defencemen to deal with one-on-one.
Considering he’s switching from a profile designed for defence and goaltending, it could make more of a difference than you might expect.
I'm an avid hockey enthusiast with a deep understanding of the sport's intricacies, including the technical aspects of player equipment and performance optimization. My knowledge extends beyond the mainstream, delving into the nuances of skate profiles and their impact on a player's skating ability.
The article discusses Elias Pettersson's dedication to enhancing his already impressive skating skills, exploring various aspects, including his stride technique, strength and conditioning, and most notably, his focus on skate profiles. My expertise allows me to shed light on the significance of these factors in a player's performance.
Firstly, Pettersson's commitment to improving his skating is evident through his participation in All-Star Weekend's fastest skater competition. This showcases not only his exceptional speed but also his agility and puck control, proving that he continually strives to exceed expectations.
The article touches upon the importance of strength and conditioning in refining skating abilities, drawing parallels with Bo Horvat's improvements under skating coach Kathy McLlwain. This highlights the multifaceted approach that elite players like Pettersson take to elevate their game.
One intriguing aspect the article delves into is Pettersson's exploration of different skate profiles. I can affirm that professional hockey players meticulously tailor their equipment, and Pettersson's attention to detail is reflective of this commitment to excellence. Skates play a pivotal role, affecting stability, acceleration, and maneuverability on the ice.
The article explains the concept of skate profiles, emphasizing the radius in feet as a crucial parameter. A standard profile, such as 13', provides stability, while smaller radii offer quicker changes in direction. Pettersson's choice of the Quad Zero profile, combining four different radiuses for specific purposes, illustrates his desire for a tailored solution that complements his style of play.
Furthermore, the article mentions Pettersson's initial use of the Detroit 2 profile, typically favored by goaltenders and defensive players. This unexpected choice underscores the potential impact of a profile change on a player's performance.
In conclusion, Pettersson's decision to adopt the Quad Zero profile, designed for elusive skilled players, demonstrates his commitment to refining even the minutest aspects of his game. While it may not overhaul his skating entirely, the potential for small improvements in grip during tight turns could significantly impact his on-ice effectiveness. As an expert, I recognize that such nuanced adjustments can make a substantial difference for players like Pettersson, who capitalize on every opportunity to gain an edge over their opponents.
