It reduces their peripheral vision. Affects how well you can see the puck when your not looking directly at it, or when it's moving beside you, and also affects how well you can see what players beside you are doing.
So does a puck to the eye. I'm sure if you ask anyone who's suffered an eye injury while playing, they'd go back in time and wear a visor.
A friend of mine actually just lost his eye playing reck league hockey, took a shot to the eye and didn't have the same kind of medical care available at the rink as these guys do. If he could go back, he'd wear a visor for sure.
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Make it simple, put a clause in the CBA. No visor, no pay if you are out with an eye injury. See how fast the too cool for school kids put one on then.
when i play puck i dont like having my visor on, not that it is in the way, it kinda just pulls my helmet down a little too low, but i would never play without.
its hard to imagine these guys playing in the fastest league in the world not wanting to protect their eyes a little better.
I like what I heard on the Fan this morning..Players say the visor blocks their view..Well how the hell do these guys manage to drive a car with a windshield in front of them.
I'm not sure if that analogy fully works though. With a windshield, your whole view is through it. With a visor, only half to 3 quarters of your view is through it. It's like wearing glasses. The part where the glasses end, it's going to be distorted from the part without the glasses.
Having said that, all it takes is some adapting and players should get used to it after they wear it for a bit. The brain is pretty versatile in adapting to changes. If I were a player, I'd be paranoid about getting a puck to the eye. Not only does it affect your livelihood, it could potentially affect your everyday life as well.
I'm always surprised to hear that NHLers think their view is restricted using visors. In my beer league I feel like my vision is always unimpeded, granted my head is constantly down staring at the puck.
This has probably been mentioned already but Prust was on the fan960 and talking about
Visors. He said he'd like to wear one but there is an unwritten rule that fighters don't wear visors. He said he'd gladly wear one if it was mandatory.
I've tried wearing a visor while playing hockey and it was really hard for me to play with it on.
Make it simple, put a clause in the CBA. No visor, no pay if you are out with an eye injury. See how fast the too cool for school kids put one on then.
Yeah that's the hill the NHL wants to die on! Let's antagonize the players on the next CBA fighting for mandatory visors when like 5 guys have gotten hurt over the years and insurance pays them!
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Exp:
Maybe the league could grandfather in the visors like they did with helments. Make it manditory for players coming out of junior and allow those that don't use them to continue without them.
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Quote:
So from a legal standpoint, can the NHL force its players to wear visors?
Short Answer:
No.
Slightly Longer Answer:
Making visors mandatory is something that is collectively bargained with the players. So that means it's something the NHL and the NHLPA need to agree on.
Playing devils advocate here. I played hockey my entire life. Up until rec hockey we had to wear cages. I hated cages. I used the full face visor and still hated it, though I hated it less. The second I was out of minor hockey I ditched it for a visor. I spent the next year switching anti fog products, and eventually visors. I definately had problems seeing at times. I took off my visor, knowing the dangers, and didn't look back. Have I taken pucks and sticks in the face? Yup. I feel more at danger with a visor on than off.
Its a matter of choice, and its their choice.
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BREAKING NEWS: #NYR report that Marc Staal was examined by both an opthalmologist & maxillofacial surgeon today, both are optimistic that Marc Staal will make "a full recovery"...Staal will be sidelined indefinitely, though the injury has "improved significantly"
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Yeah that's the hill the NHL wants to die on! Let's antagonize the players on the next CBA fighting for mandatory visors when like 5 guys have gotten hurt over the years and insurance pays them!
Without even looking up the stats I can give you 5 off the top of my head in the last decade alone.
Al Mcinnis (career ending)
Brian Berard (ruined career)
Manny Molholtra (ruined career)
Steve Yzerman (never the same)
Saku Koivu
It is a huge problem, and when these players are on a 2 or 3 month injury term, their contracts are not covered by insurance. Insurance comes into play if they have to retire.
Without even looking up the stats I can give you 5 off the top of my head in the last decade alone.
Al Mcinnis (career ending)
Brian Berard (ruined career)
Manny Molholtra (ruined career)
Steve Yzerman (never the same)
Saku Koivu
It is a huge problem, and when these players are on a 2 or 3 month injury term, their contracts are not covered by insurance. Insurance comes into play if they have to retire.
Think Staal is going to wear a visor in the long term once he is all healed up?
In the big picture I really dont care what players. I couldnt care about Staal's longterm prognosis. If he values not wearing a visor more than the risk of losing an eye, Im not going to judge or care.
Theres only a few players I would be a bit upset about losing from the game due to a serious injury. The game will go on.
The argument of visors restricting ability so see the puck is a funny one cause most of the highly skilled guys are all wearing visors. A lot of the guys not wearing them are grinders or tough guys who really shouldn't be affected as much
The argument of visors restricting ability so see the puck is a funny one cause most of the highly skilled guys are all wearing visors. A lot of the guys not wearing them are grinders or tough guys who really shouldn't be affected as much
yup.
Plus, if everyone is wearing them, it is a completely mute point.
