Devils goalie Martin Brodeur has finally copped to being the goalie who complained about Alex Ovechkin's visor:
A member of the rules committee, Brodeur felt the mirrored visor gave Ovechkin an advantage because goalies couldn't see his eyes. When the matter was put before NHL GMs a few months back, they voted 29-1 to outlaw mirrored visors. Capitals GM George McPhee was the lone vote against banning the visors.In addition to shooters having an advantage when goalies cannot see their eyes, Brodeur said "in an era when the league needs to sell the game, it's important for fans to see players' faces."
Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said it was "both a safety and marketing" decision to ban mirrored visors.
Thanks to Caps Nut for the pointer.
UPDATE: Just an FYI -- I've put in a call to the Devils asking about what specific safety concerns Lamoriello has about the mirrored visor. If I get a call back, or if I don't, I'll let you know.
ANOTHER UPDATE: NBC Sports has just posted another of my pieces. This one includes a brief discussion of the visor issue, as well as another item on the trickle down effect of the new rules of enforcement on youth and recreational hockey.
1) One wonders if Lamarello would have cared about the safety oir marketing of the game if it was Patrick Elias who wore the mirrored visor?
2) We also wonder how possibly fewer goals by Ovechkin will help ‘market’ the game?
I think Brodeur was just concerned Jose Theordore might forget about the puck and keep fixing his hair under his helmet.
I know there have been concerns raised by some conferences about college football players wearing mirrored visors because they could obstruct medical staff’s ability to visually inspect the eyes/pupils without removing the helmet, which I guess is necessary in some instances in which there is head trauma/injury on the field.
Also, Eric, I know that you’re an unabashed believer that Ovechkin in the future of the NHL, and I happen to agree with you, but you have to acknowledge that goalies are placed at a disadvantage if they’re unable to read a shooters eyes, right?
Tell you what–we can cut a deal. Ban the composite rocket launchers that players are shooting with nowadays and bring back wood, and I’ll be OK with mirrored visors.
Breakaways and shootouts aside, how often are goalies actually reading a shooter’s eyes?
1) We thought that the NHL wanted to increase scoring? Unless they can somehow argue that the visor can be dangerous to the goalies then it needs to be allowed
2) Tough, that they can’t see the shooters eyes! Geez, even after the reductions of equiptment, the ‘tenders still have an enormous advantage.
3) Don’t think so? Take a look at a NHL game prior to 1980. You’ll think the goalies are midgets with their tiny pads, etc. There was actually some net to see. Time to turn the tables, just a little!
“Breakaways and shootouts aside, how often are goalies actually reading a shooter’s eyes?”
Probably rarely, but I think breakaways and shootouts are frequent enough that it’s a legitimate concern.
Besides, what safety benefit does Ovechkin get from the mirrored visor that he couldn’t get from a non-mirrored visor?
The league created the trapezoid behind the goal to keep Brodeur from playing the puck. This is no different.
AO beats defenders in open ice on a nightly basis. More so, I’d argue, than almost any other NHLer. I think the mirrored visor helped him with that more than fooling goalies.