At long last, the NHL is moving to implement a mandatory visor requirement, as the Competition Committee (which includes Nashville Predators general manager David Poile) announced this afternoon. Kevin Allen notes that these changes do require approval from the NHL Board of Governors before being implemented. While current players can choose for themselves whether to use facial protection, anyone entering the league henceforth will have to wear one. Considering that visors are already required in junior & collegiate hockey, this really shouldn’t prove to be much of a problem.
Here’s a breakdown of the news from E.J. Hradek at NHL Network:
For a local angle on the visor issue, Josh Cooper recalls a conversation with Shea Weber from 2011 over in his blog at the Tennessean, it’s well worth a look.
In addition, it looks like hybrid icing is going to get a tryout in the preseason, the nets will be made shallower to allow for more room behind the goal, and another committee is going to look at goalie equipment (hack away, lads!).
All in all, it’s nice to see things like this move forward without getting caught up in CBA negotiations.