Ryan O'Reilly and the Last of the Visorless NHL Veterans: A Dying Breed

There has been a drastic shift in the NHL in regards to player safety. The visor, which is now taken on by any new players, has much defined this change. A handful of veterans—including O'Reilly, Jamie Benn, and Zach Bogosian—skate into the action, blissfully unaware of the added facial protection. While it's a matter of habit and comfort, they are well aware of the dangers that come their way. With the NHL evolving considerably over the past couple of decades and more and more awareness regarding safety matters, the time for a player without a visor looks pretty adamant.

Nashville Predators veteran center Ryan O'Reilly has faced multiple pressures from family to don a visor, especially after some close calls with sticks and pucks. But, looking at their concerns, the 34-year-old O'Reilly is adamant: "Hockey players are creatures of habit." His views are shared by Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn, who, despite his mother's rabid pleas, has refused to change.

The NHL's 2013 implementation of a rule requiring visors in players with fewer than 25 games effectively began the phasing out of visor-less skaters. Today, with the exemption of players such as Matt Martin and Ryan Reaves—two known enforcers—the rank of un-visored players is dwindling. But things shall change fast; Martin is currently injured, while Reaves is in the AHL.

Going without a visor is not just about showing some grit. For Zach Bogosian, a 34-year-old defenseman, it was just what he was used to. A lot of veteran players began their careers during the optional visor era; some—like Reaves—eventually found themselves having to strip their own.
You might appear tough without a visor, but there are historic dangers associated with that look. Bryan Berard's life-changing eye injury in 2000 is a glaring reminder of what is at stake. Even guys who admire the old-school way, such as Matt Duchene, concede, “You can fix everything south of your eyes.”
Also Read :After Losing to the Buffalo Sabres, the Coach of Edmonton Oilers Reveals the Team's Big Flaw
As the league develops toward more safety measures, the number of players without visors declines further. For O'Reilly, Benn, and the rest of their ilk, it becomes a tradition that is strictly a matter of personal choice. However, as the game moves on, an era including visor-less players may soon be nothing but a nostalgia act.