Will Mandatory visors for new NHL players portends fighting’s demise

This didn’t take long for the anti-fighting cabal to be jump on this one. Fighting isn’t going away in the NHL. If you took fighting away in the NHL, the Matt Cooke type players in the NHL would flourish. Again, I suggest getting rid of the instigator penalty.

The Globe and Mail – We may be too optimistic. Perhaps an enterprising enforcer will invent an ejectable visor. Or fighters will throw off their helmets (at least until someone dies when falling backward on his head). But visors are bound to cover more and more of the face. Players will wonder why they are protecting their eyes and not their jaws. The right to punch the other fellow into oblivion will fade away.

Hockey at all levels is working to reduce or eliminate headshots. It makes no sense that punches to the head are still permitted. The end of fighting won’t come all at once, but gently, when today’s grandfathers have said goodbye to the game.

What you’re going to see is more fights with two guys punching each other in the shield. Also, the AHL already has a mandatory visor law, so does the CHL, as well as the USHL and other junior hockey leagues. That hasn't stopped fights from happening. What do you think?

Use of Visors mandatory?

Image via WikipediaThis is the latest argument that has come up, some want to make the use of visor mandatory in the NHL, the AHL visors are already mandatory. Me personally, I think it should be up to the individual player, if they don't want to wear the visor them it should be up to them.

Hockey News --- For most players, like sidelined Flyers forward Ian Laperriere, they simply haven't abandoned their outdated attitudes that wearing a shield means a player isn't tough. Facemasks aren't hip—and only the real macho players are willing to take the ice without them.

Some players once felt the same way about helmets and other protective gear. Now, keeping heads safe is mandatory. Eyes could be next.

The time could be near when visors are as much a part of the game as sticks and gloves.

"Sometimes you have to save the players from themselves," said Pierre McGuire, an NHL analyst for NBC and Versus.

Added Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault: "Visors should be mandatory."