A Fading Tradition: The Last NHL Players Without Visors
Hockey has always been known as an aggressive, competitive, and raw sport. For decades, the sight of NHL players without visors was commonplace. They were tough, fierce competitors, and at first, they didn’t even wear helmets until the mandatory rule was implemented in 1979. Old-school veterans were allowed to keep playing without helmets, further embracing the grit, physicality, and original spirit of the game. As times change and the sport evolves, the number of players without visors is quickly diminishing.
This depleting number of visorless players can be attributed to Rule 9.7, a rule established in the 2013-2014 season stating that all players with fewer than 25 games of experience at the time “must wear a visor properly affixed to their helmet.” The rule was implemented with player safety at the forefront. This meant that all rookies had to wear a visor, making younger generations more accustomed to the protection year after year. As a result, visor usage has become the norm rather than the exception in today’s NHL.
At the time of this rule change, there were still many players without visors, and veterans were the most difficult to sway in terms of prioritizing safety. To be frank, hockey players don’t care about safety—they care about winning. These are the same athletes who get stitched up between shifts and return to play without hesitation. While these players were still allowed to play visorless, many veterans have since retired. Each season, the number of players without visors continues to shrink, making it increasingly rare to see an NHL player skating without one.
The primary reason for the implementation of visors is simple—safety. There have been numerous notable injuries involving sticks and pucks to the face or eyes. In March 2000, Bryan Berard, who wasn’t wearing a visor, suffered a severe eye injury that resulted in near blindness in his right eye. Other players, such as Jamie Benn, Zach Bogosian, and Ryan Reaves, have had close calls with sticks and pucks coming dangerously close to their eyes. The NHL and medical professionals overwhelmingly support and encourage players to wear visors. Not only do they prevent injuries from sticks and pucks, but also from collisions, facial fractures, and breaks, reducing the risk of serious, career-threatening injuries.
The list of players still competing without visors is small, consisting of Dallas captain Jamie Benn, Minnesota defenseman Zach Bogosian, New York Islanders forward Matt Martin, Toronto’s Ryan Reaves, and Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly. Martin, 35, has been out since mid-January due to injury, while the 38-year-old Reaves recently cleared waivers and was assigned to the American Hockey League. O’Reilly, one of the most vocal players on the issue, remains steadfast in his choice to forgo a visor. Despite multiple close calls with blades, sticks, and pucks, his decision remains unchanged. Even his mother frequently urges him to wear one, but her efforts have not swayed him.
“Hockey players are creatures of habit,” O'Reilly stated. His comment reflects the deep-rooted traditions in the game. Some players believe equipment changes can alter their playing style and comfort on the ice. While most players have adapted to the visor mandate, a select few continue to resist the shift toward increased facial protection.
The last remaining players without visors stand as symbols of gritty, old-school hockey. To them, this is not just a conversation about safety but also about preserving the spirit of the game they grew up playing. The NHL may take further steps to increase facial protection, yet for now, these visorless veterans will remain. However, as the game continues to evolve and safety measures become standard, the era of visorless players seems destined to fade away. The NHL couldn’t change O’Reilly’s mind in 2013, and even his mother can’t change it in 2025—illustrating the deep-rooted resistance among the last holdouts of a disappearing tradition.
