BY ROBERT ZUCCARO – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
It has been a crazy shortened season in the NHL this year; but no matter the length, there is always enough time for controversy. The topic of making visors mandatory in the NHL has popped up once again. After what has happened this year, I would see making visors mandatory a good thing.
Back in February, the Vancouver Canucks shut down centre Manny Malhotra for the remainder of the season because of his lingering eye injury. For those of you who don’t remember, Malhotra suffered this injury back in the 2010-2011 season in a game against the Avalanche.
Since suffering this injury he has not been the same player, but who could blame him? Malhotra used to be able to win more than 50 percent of his face-offs, but since the injury, has come nowhere close. When his vision wasn’t getting any better as time progressed, the Canucks decided to shut him down. Some believe that this may also be Malhotra’s last year in the NHL.
Have your say: Have an opinion on the news of the day? Better yet, want to become a Fan Fuel blogger? Email us here. | Read more Fan Fuel blogs here
On March 6th, Rangers defenceman Marc Staal suffers a similar fate. In a game against the Flyers, a Kimmo Timonen slapshot was deflected high, hitting Staal in the eye. He has since been out of the line-up.
I know that there are these crazy traditions, and most players believe in keeping the visors off for several arguable reasons. The NHL has adapted before in terms of player safety. The death of Bill Masterson prompted the use of helmets, and Clint Malarchuk’s near death experience created a rule that made it mandatory for all goaltenders to wear neck guards. So if the NHL could make changes back in the day to benefit the health of its players, why can’t they do it now?
To further prove my point, former Maple Leaf Bryan Berard was never the same player after taking a Marian Hossa high stick in the eye. Add Chris Pronger to the list of current players with eye injuries. Not only is he battling concussions, but an eye injury he suffered against Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski. So why not embrace visors? When I played hockey, I had to wear a cage. I don’t think a visor would be the end of the world…