The results were eye-opening. On his first shift back after recovering from a sore back, Shanahan scored in Game 3 against Phoenix. During the clinching game Sunday in Phoenix, the Shanny Slapper connected twice. Now he is on a roll with sticks that are slowly being phased out. But here is the problem Shanahan faces.
Fewer manufacturers make aluminum sticks.
In time, Shanahan fears his sticks will disappear. Coyotes center Jeremy Roenick, Blues right wing Jim Campbell and Shanahan are among the few players sticking to aluminum. Joe Kocur and Larry Murphy are the only Wings forwards using wood. The aluminum sticks are hard to come by now. I am going to try to convince some of these companies to keep making them because I have a much more confident feel than when I used the graphite.