Do NHL Players Have to Wear Visors?

NHL players have been wearing visors since the 1970s, but they were only made mandatory in 2013. Do NHL players have to wear visors?

Introduction

NHL players have been wearing visors since the 2005-06 season, when a rule was instituted requiring newly drafted prospects or any player signing their first NHL contract to wear a visor. Players who were in the NHL prior to the rule could choose whether or not they wanted to wear one.

As of the 2013-14 season, 79% of NHL players were wearing visors. This includes 96% of rookies, 84% of players in their 2nd year or less, and 58% of veterans (10+ years in the league).

There are a number of reasons why players may choose to wear a visor. For some, it’s a safety issue – they want to protect their eyes from flying pucks and sticks. For others, it’s about being able to see better on the ice. And for some, it’s simply a matter of personal preference.

What do you think? Should all NHL players be required to wear visors?

A Brief History of the Visor

In the 1970s, players began to wear visors to protect themselves from high sticks. They soon became commonplace, particularly among forwards, who were more likely to be on the receiving end of a stick to the face. In the 1980s, however, a series of gruesome eye injuries led some to argue that visors were actually more dangerous than helpful. Scott Stevens, then with the Washington Capitals, had his career threatened when he was hit in the eye with a puck in 1988; he returned to play wearing a half-visor. In 2000, Detroit’s Alan Kozlowski was hit by a puck and lost his eye completely.

The Pros of Wearing a Visor

NHL players have to make a decision whether to wear a visor or not. Some players feel that visors give them an advantage because they can see the puck better. Wearing a visor can also help protect a player’s eyes from getting injured by a flying puck or stick. Let’s take a look at some more pros of wearing a visor in the NHL.

Protection from serious injury

Wearing a visor can protect a player from suffering a serious eye injury. In 2013, Brooks Orpik of the Pittsburgh Penguins was struck in the eye by a deflected puck. He missed several weeks of action and nearly lost his vision in that eye.

In 2000, Steve Sullivan of the Chicago Blackhawks had his career cut short when he was hit in the eye by a puck. He was only 26 years old at the time and he never played in the NHL again.

There have been many other players who have suffered serious eye injuries, but those are just two examples of how wearing a visor can protect a player from losing their career or even their vision.

Decreased likelihood of contracting an eye infection

One of the pros of wearing a visor is that it decreases the likelihood of contracting an eye infection. When you wear a visor, it creates a barrier between your eyes and the outside world, which means that there is less chance for bacteria and other contaminants to get into your eyes.

Another pro of wearing a visor is that it can help to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV radiation can cause damage to the cornea, lens, and retina, and it can also increase your risk for developing cataracts. Wearing a visor can help to block out some of the sun’s UV rays, which can help to keep your eyes healthy.

A third pro of wearing a visor is that it can help to reduce glare. Glare can be distracting and uncomfortable, and it can also lead to temporary vision problems such as blurriness and reduced contrast. Wearing a visor can help to reduce the amount of glare that you’re exposed to, which can make it easier to see both on and off the ice.

The Cons of Wearing a Visor

Players have been wearing visors since the late 1970s, but they were not made mandatory until the 2013-14 season. There are a few cons to wearing a visor. First, it can fog up during play and affect your vision. Second, it can be difficult to see through the visor when the sun is shining. Third, it can be difficult to breathe through the visor if it is not well-ventilated.

Reduced peripheral vision

One of the main arguments against wearing visors is that they can impede peripheral vision. While this is technically true, it’s important to consider the context in which hockey is played. For the most part, players are only looking straight ahead or down at the ice. They don’t need to be constantly scanning the peripheries for potential threats. And when they do need to look around, they can just tilt their head a little bit to get a better view.

In addition, it’s worth noting that many NHL players who have switched from wearing goggles to visors have actually said that their peripheral vision has improved. This is likely because visors don’t fog up as easily as goggles, so players have a clearer view overall.

Impaired communication

While most NHL players support the decision to make visors mandatory, there are some who believe that it can be detrimental to the game. One of the main issues with visors is that they can impair communication on the ice. Players rely on being able to see each other’s faces in order to communicate effectively, and visors can block players’ vision and make it difficult to understand what their teammates are saying.

Another concern is that visors can fog up, making it difficult for players to see clearly. This can be especially dangerous when players are trying to avoid being hit with the puck. Visors can also make it difficult for players to see out of the corners of their eyes, which can limit their peripheral vision.

The Verdict

The NHL started to institute a rule in 2013-2014 that required all players with fewer than 26 games of NHL experience to wear visors. This rule was expanded in the 2014-2015 season to include all players, regardless of experience. The NHL has seen a decline in the number of injuries since the rule was implemented, but some players still refuse to wear visors. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of wearing a visor in the NHL.

NHL players should be required to wear visors

There is no question that NHL players should be required to wear visors. The league has been slow to act on this issue, but the time has come to mandate visors in order to protect the players.

There are a number of reasons why visors should be required. First, they offer a tremendous amount of protection to the player’s eyes. Second, they can prevent serious injuries such as concussions. Third, they can help keep players from getting injured in the first place by preventing them from being hit in the face with a puck or stick.

The league has been reluctant to mandate visors for a number of reasons. One is that some players feel that they impair their vision. Another is that many players believe that visors make them look like sissies. But the bottom line is that player safety should always be the league’s top priority, and visors offer an important measure of protection.

It’s time for the NHL to require all players to wear visors. It’s the right thing to do for the safety of the players, and it’s something that we as fans should demand.

NHL players should not be required to wear visors

There is no question that visors protect players from serious injury, and the NHL has been working hard to make the game safer for its players. However, visors are also a personal choice, and many players feel that they interfere with their vision and impede their ability to play the game.

The NHL does not currently require players to wear visors, but it does strongly encourage them to do so. In 2013, the league implemented a rule that all new players must wear visors, and players who have already been in the league are grandfathered in and are not required to wear them.

So far, the decision to wear a visor or not has been left up to the individual player, and it does not appear that this will change anytime soon.