So, with the recent injrury to Koivu, it will probably bring up visors again in the the topic of discussion. Koivu already wears one. So it comes to this question. Do you throw away a portion of your skill to a visor that will only protect you only half of the time? The stick went up under the visor.
A friend of mine pointed out that in college hockey they are forced to wear full caged helmets. That also brings up this debate. Yes, it provides protection of the face againnst the sticks. With that in mind, if you can't get injured with a high stick to the face if you are wearing a face cage, then you really don't need to keep your stick down, right? Well then with the size of the players in the NHL and the way the game is played, even with face cages the sticks near the head will still be dangerous.
I look at it this way. If a player doesn't want to wear one, great, he shouldn't have to, but, an owner should be able to put it into a players contract that he will wear a visor in all games he plays for his team and any other hockey team he plays for such as his country's team. The owner is trying to protect his investment.
