Canadiens1958
Registered User
Easier
In hockey and other sports what is easier for most does not translate into easier for all.
That said, centers be they RHS or LHS do not all play the same way. Some have a more open body position, others are more closed, some carry the puck closer to the body than others, others carry it more forward,some favour a lane to the left of center, others favour a lane to the right,for some it does not matter. Some play equally well against LHS and RHS shooting centers, others do not.
This explains the second part of the question, but not the first, which is what I was really interested in.
Wouldn't it be easier for a RHS center to pass to his left? Passing to his left would be on the forehand, and to his right would be on the backhand.
(Especially in Oates' era...by this time curved sticks had been around for a while and the role/art of the backhand had diminished from what it was in the straight blade days)
In hockey and other sports what is easier for most does not translate into easier for all.
That said, centers be they RHS or LHS do not all play the same way. Some have a more open body position, others are more closed, some carry the puck closer to the body than others, others carry it more forward,some favour a lane to the left of center, others favour a lane to the right,for some it does not matter. Some play equally well against LHS and RHS shooting centers, others do not.