Former San Jose Sharks centerman Nick Bonino has brought his faceoff tricks to the New York Rangers.

Former San Jose Sharks centerman Nick Bonino has brought his faceoff tricks to the New York Rangers.

In his career, Bonino has a 50% FOW%. While that may not jump off the charts, he has often been called upon to take draws in key situations. Now, he has brought his veteran tricks to the East Coast. 

In 22-23, the Rangers finished 20th in FOW% with 49.1%. Through 14 games this season, the Rangers have a 56% FOW%, good for second in the NHL.

THN's Jonny Lazarus has noticed subtle changes in how some players on the team have been taking faceoffs.

During the first game of the season, Bonino did something that Lazarus hadn't seen before. He flipped his stick to the opposite hand.

Players like Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad are incorporating Bonino's trick into their game.

Nico Sturm of the Sharks talked to THN about what faceoff knowledge Bonino has brought to him and the Rangers.

"That is definitely something that Bones did," Sturm said about flipping the stick on faceoffs. "It's just about expanding your repertoire."

Trocheck currently leads the NHL in FOW% at 64.4%. Sturm is in second place with 63.5%.

Sturm explained that he does not flip the stick for the faceoff during every draw. There are specific situations in which he tries to implement it.

"I now know a certain situation if I'm actually on the weak side and I go against a righty, I try to incorporate it a little more," Sturm explained. "It's very detail-oriented work."

Being comfortable flipping a stick to the opposite hand is the key to success for Bonino's trick. Tomas Hertl has said he doesn't do it because he isn't comfortable with it. 

Sturm also said that it depends on how the other team is lined up that will determine his faceoff strategy.

"The other thing to see is how the other team is lined up," Sturm said. "If you have a faceoff in your defensive zone, and they try to line up a shooter right behind them, I now know it doesn't really matter for me to win the faceoff as much as I can't lose a clean to where he wants the puck to go because he's got to shoot the right line up behind."

While the Sharks haven't been able to truly reap the benefits of winning faceoffs, Nick Bonino's Rangers have, and it is easily seen. Faceoffs are an essential part of hockey, and Bonino has turned his ability into a strength for an entire franchise.

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