Forever_Habs10 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 Legal Look: Mandatory visors in the NHL This has once again sparked a discussion as to whether the NHL should make visors mandatory. So from a legal standpoint, can the NHL force its players to wear visors? Yes No Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 With errant sticks and flying pucks it should be mandatory for players coming into the league just as helmets became mandatory. Players need to think if losing an eye is a fair trade off for not wearing one. Ideally, I'd like to see every player wearing one now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 I have no problem with them grandfathering a rule about visors,, like they did the helmet rule. Protection is available so why take the risk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted March 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 I have no problem with them grandfathering a rule about visors,, This Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 Legal Look: Mandatory visors in the NHL This has once again sparked a discussion as to whether the NHL should make visors mandatory. So from a legal standpoint, can the NHL force its players to wear visors? Yes No IMO,,, all rookies should wear them, after all they just got out of JR. or college,,,,where they had to wear them. Another reason is that if I were the owner of a team,,,,and I had millions invested in the players,,,,,,,,,I would want my investment protected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerplay2009 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 I'm not sure how much visors actually do tbh. I would say that probably less than 2% of all injuries are because a player didn't wear a visor. Sometimes when players get hit in the face, it looks to me like they would have been hit visor or no visor. That said, mandating visors would be a simple solution to a problem that would improve the game, even if just a little. Any time you have a situation like that, I think its a no-brainer to require them. The problem is that it can't legally happen if the NHL wants to do it by itself. It needs the NHLPA, and their job is to represent all players, including those that don't wear visors. I would be shocked if the NHLPA agreed to require visors. Each year more and more players decide to wear a visor, so even if they aren't required I have a hard time seeing that this will be an issue 10 years from now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 I'm not sure how much visors actually do tbh. I would say that probably less than 2% of all injuries are because a player didn't wear a visor. Sometimes when players get hit in the face, it looks to me like they would have been hit visor or no visor. That said, mandating visors would be a simple solution to a problem that would improve the game, even if just a little. Any time you have a situation like that, I think its a no-brainer to require them. The problem is that it can't legally happen if the NHL wants to do it by itself. It needs the NHLPA, and their job is to represent all players, including those that don't wear visors. I would be shocked if the NHLPA agreed to require visors. Each year more and more players decide to wear a visor, so even if they aren't required I have a hard time seeing that this will be an issue 10 years from now. Is that just pure luck? I'd say it is. With that little disk zipping around at up to 100 mph I'm surprised there haven't been more serious eye injuries, not to mention errant sticks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noob616 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 It should be a no brainer. There's no legitimate argument to not wear a visor that doesn't boil down to macho testosterone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_rocket Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 I agree that visors should be "grandfathered" into the NHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerplay2009 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Is that just pure luck? I'd say it is. With that little disk zipping around at up to 100 mph I'm surprised there haven't been more serious eye injuries, not to mention errant sticks. Hard to call it luck given that there has been a mix of visors and no visors around for years now IMO. Eye injuries are bound to happen, with or without visors(Saku Koivu is a good example), but its not like they are killing the game and taking out players left and right like concussions a few years ago. I think this issue, to be frank, gets too much attention TBH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Hard to call it luck given that there has been a mix of visors and no visors around for years now IMO. Eye injuries are bound to happen, with or without visors(Saku Koivu is a good example), but its not like they are killing the game and taking out players left and right like concussions a few years ago. I think this issue, to be frank, gets too much attention TBH. I don't think one game goes by where a player doesn't get something in his face whether it be a puck, stick or whatever. Considering most, if not all, players have some facial scars, those 'injuries' occurred within inches of their eyes. Considering the close proximity of the eyes to any contact to the face I'd say the players have been lucky there haven't been more eye injuries and they're refusal to wear visors is just tempting fate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatethosebruins Posted March 17, 2013 Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 Just do it already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerplay2009 Posted March 19, 2013 Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 I don't think one game goes by where a player doesn't get something in his face whether it be a puck, stick or whatever. Considering most, if not all, players have some facial scars, those 'injuries' occurred within inches of their eyes. Considering the close proximity of the eyes to any contact to the face I'd say the players have been lucky there haven't been more eye injuries and they're refusal to wear visors is just tempting fate. If not wearing visors is tempting fate, why not let them wear visors and see what happens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted March 19, 2013 Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 If not wearing visors is tempting fate, why not let them wear visors and see what happens? The league already lets them wear visors. The issue is the league and NHLPA both have to agree to make them mandatory for every player or to require players coming into the league to wear them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forza-Montreal Posted March 19, 2013 Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 It should be a no brainer. There's no legitimate argument to not wear a visor that doesn't boil down to macho testosterone. Couldn't Agree 100% More, I just cant see a reason why you wouldn't protect your self more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerplay2009 Posted March 19, 2013 Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 The league already lets them wear visors. The issue is the league and NHLPA both have to agree to make them mandatory for every player or to require players coming into the league to wear them. Sorry, I made a typo. I meant why not let them NOT wear visors. Why not let tempting fate be the players choice, if they feel that strongly about it? Don't get me wrong, I think they should be mandatory, but why anyone would choose not to wear one is beyond me. I just think that between with how little eye injuries actually occur and how obvious a choice wearing a visor should be, this issue gets way more focus and attention than it should given other issues around the game's safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted March 19, 2013 Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 Sorry, I made a typo. I meant why not let them NOT wear visors. Why not let tempting fate be the players choice, if they feel that strongly about it? Don't get me wrong, I think they should be mandatory, but why anyone would choose not to wear one is beyond me. I just think that between with how little eye injuries actually occur and how obvious a choice wearing a visor should be, this issue gets way more focus and attention than it should given other issues around the game's safety. I thought you made a typo but I wasn't sure. Players refused to wear helmets too until a player died. After that helmets were grandfathered in. Visors will be mandatory eventually. It may take a gruesome eye injury(skate slicing an eyeball) to a player but it will eventually happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerplay2009 Posted March 20, 2013 Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 How many Habs players don't wear visors? Just something I noticed last game-I think its only 1 or 2. Players refused to wear helmets too until a player died. After that helmets were grandfathered in. Visors will be mandatory eventually. It may take a gruesome eye injury(skate slicing an eyeball) to a player but it will eventually happen. No doubt. Honestly, with more and more players wearing visors every year, I wouldn't be surprised to see the just the NHLPA take action or have the issue wait until its a formality, with only 1 or 2 players per team not wearing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted March 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 NHLPA will speak to players about visors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyBresciani Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 I agree that all players should wear visors and I can understand the owner's perspefctive of protecting their investment. From a fan's perspective, obviously we don't want to lose a player to an injury that could have been prevented if they wore a visor. However, I would like to hear thoughts on this. Many years ago, when I played Junior, the players who did not wish to wear a visor (but were forced too by league rules) simply tilted their helmets back high on their foreheads. This exposed their eyes while at the same time making their helmets much less effective. I would obviously rather see a player protecting his head properly than imposing a rule that resulted in improper helmet adjustment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 I agree that all players should wear visors and I can understand the owner's perspefctive of protecting their investment. From a fan's perspective, obviously we don't want to lose a player to an injury that could have been prevented if they wore a visor. However, I would like to hear thoughts on this. Many years ago, when I played Junior, the players who did not wish to wear a visor (but were forced too by league rules) simply tilted their helmets back high on their foreheads. This exposed their eyes while at the same time making their helmets much less effective. I would obviously rather see a player protecting his head properly than imposing a rule that resulted in improper helmet adjustment. Didn't the junior leagues also implement a minor penalty for players wearing their helmets improperly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyBresciani Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 Didn't the junior leagues also implement a minor penalty for players wearing their helmets improperly? Looks like they did. Good to see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerplay2009 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 Eric and Jordan Staal are wearing visors. Could they set an example? http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=661525&navid=nhl:topheads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 Eric and Jordan Staal are wearing visors. Could they set an example? http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=661525&navid=nhl:topheads Absolutely! Everyone always seem to wait for that first guy to do it and then they all fall into line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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