Wyatt Johnston Trying Out New Sticks Over The Summer

As Wyatt Johnston gears up for his fourth NHL season with the Dallas Stars, there’s no question he’s becoming one of the league’s brightest young forwards. The 22-year-old continues to elevate his game, posting a career-best 71 points during the 2024-25 season with 33 goals and 38 assists. Johnston’s on-ice development has Dallas fans and management excited for what’s to come, and he’s clearly a key piece in the team’s long-term plans. But as the 2025-26 season approaches, Johnston is drawing attention not just for his performance, but also for the equipment he uses.

Johnston’s hockey equipment setup has become a topic of curiosity among fans and gear enthusiasts alike. For a few seasons now, he has maintained somewhat of a unique setup. He’s known for wearing True skates, but combines that with nearly all Bauer equipment elsewhere. This includes gloves, helmet, pants, and perhaps most notably the Bauer Proto R stick. Since December 2023, Johnston has been consistently promoting the Proto R’s original black-and-white graphic, even as other players began switching to updated Bauer models or simply dressing their preferred stick builds with new promotional graphics.

In the NHL, it’s common for players to update their stick’s visual branding, even if they stick with the same specs. Johnston’s refusal to shift from the original Proto R look has stood out. Whether it’s a matter of superstition or personal aesthetic preference, it’s clear that Johnston feels strongly about keeping the familiar visual of that stick as part of his on-ice identity.

However, recent developments this Summer suggest Johnston may be exploring other options heading into the new season. During a few offseason skates, he was spotted experimenting with True’s new HZRDUS Smoke hockey stick, a major shift if he were to make the switch official. Such a move could align him more fully with True as a brand, especially considering his long-standing loyalty to their skates. It could even be an indicator that a more formal brand partnership is in the works.

That said, the waters remain murky. Just weeks after being seen with the HZRDUS Smoke, Johnston was again spotted on the ice using a stick dressed in Bauer’s new Pulse graphic. Whether this was a true Pulse build or his standard preferences wrapped in Pulse graphics is unknown. Still, the appearance of new stick visuals, even if just experimental, marks a subtle yet significant departure from his steadfast Proto R look.

Could Johnston be preparing for a full switch? Might he test multiple builds before locking in a final choice for training camp in September? Or will he return to his trusted Proto R once the puck drops on the regular season in October?

With no public confirmation of a change, all options remain on the table. But for a player of Johnston’s rising stature, one with a growing fan base and increasing visibility on the national stage, his equipment choices matter more than ever. Whether they reflect performance preferences or brand alignment, they’ll undoubtedly continue to generate buzz.

One thing is for sure, with his game continuing to evolve and his influence rising, Wyatt Johnston is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing players to watch. This includes both for his play on the ice, and his gear heading into the 2025-26 NHL season.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Kozub