The 2018 Bauer NEXUS 2N Pro could be your new favourite stick. It was built to make the game easier, and that’s exactly what it does. With advanced blade and carbon layering technology built in, the 2N Pro is the lightest and most durable NEXUS stick to hit the market.

Only a few years ago now, Bauer introduced the NEXUS stick family to find some middle ground between the Vapor and Supreme stick lines. As the story went, use a Vapor stick if you favour quick snapshots and a Supreme stick if you tend to take booming slapshots. Want something in between? Go with a NEXUS stick.

Bauer took some time to dial in the NEXUS stick profile, and the reviews of the NEXUS 1000 and NEXUS 8000 sticks varied. Some loved them; some hated them. It took some tinkering, but Bauer hit their stride with the 3rd generation 1N stick and refined it further with the 1N 2.0 stick.

The 1N has become quite popular in the NHL over the last few years. Notable Bauer athletes like Auston Matthews, David Pastrnak, and Jonathan Toews all used the 1N either exclusively or for an extended period lasts season. With feedback from these pro players, Bauer made some tweaks and allowed players to test out the 2N Pro through their total custom program. The result is the retail version of the 2N Pro.

What we see now in the 2N Pro, is far from the middle of the road. The 5th generation NEXUS is an all-around performer. There are players whose playing styles require a low-kick Vapor and some whose shot tendency begs for a mid-kick Supreme, but most of us lie somewhere in the middle.

R-Lite Blade System

The July 27th release of the 2N Pro is opening night for Bauer’s latest blade core. While this is the first time we’ll see it at retail, the R-Lite system is hands down the most popular option for NHL players. Ultra-light foams are combined with Bauer’s signature TeXtreme carbon fiber to drop the overall weight of the blade without sacrificing strength or durability.

The system is based on the 1X LITE from the Vapor line but is a bit lighter and slightly stiffer. To improve puck feel and puck control, Bauer has added a fibre-reinforced rubberized dampening layer. The stiffness in the blade ensures accuracy, while the dampening layer softens impacts to maintain responsiveness.

DuraFlex Resin System

Another technology featured in the 2N Pro is Bauer’s DuraFlex Resin System. The trend worldwide is for players to drop down a flex. At one point, almost all senior sticks were 100 flex or more. But as players have honed their shooting techniques, they’ve also learned to take advantage of the sticks flex technology and can rifle shots with a lower flex easier, quicker, and more accurately.

Auston Matthews, for example, is 6’3”, weighs 216lbs, and uses an 82 flex stick. When he steps into a one-timer, we see a crazy bow effect on his stick. In the past, this crazy flex put stress on the shaft resin which eventually breaks down causing the stick to snap. No Bueno.

The DuraFlex resin is built to withstand the massive stick flex we see in today’s game. The resin is more resistant to impact stress and flex stress which results in a more durable stick. For those hesitant to drop down a flex, this should help put your mind at ease.

Notes on the 2N Stick

The 2N stick is the second-tier model in the 2018 Nexus lineup and features a few notable upgrades. The standard height for the 77, 87, and 102 flex options is an extended 64” tall. The 70 flex 2N comes in a standard 60” height.

One thing you’ll want to keep in mind is that Bauer tests stick flex at a standard 60” length. So a 64” 87 flex will have more whip than the 60” 87 flex. If you plan on using the full length 64” without cutting the stick, you may want to jump up a flex.

Another upgrade to the 2N stick is an improved method of fusing the blade to the shaft. The stick is still a two-piece fused construction, but Bauer has reduced the amount of excess material needed to fuse the two sections. The feeling of the stick when shooting is getting closer and close to that of the Monocomp one-piece construction. So for those not looking to break the bank, but still want a high performing stick, the 2N is a terrific option.