Ryan Malone Photo By Linda Hamilton

It’s a debate we’ve seen quite a bit over the last few years. Visors: should players be required to wear them or should it remain up to their discretion? This question has jumped to the forefront for Lightning players even though they’re only skating with each other.

A number of Bolts have been skating at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum. The sessions have largely been without incident, so far only Eric Brewer needed six stitches around his left eye after he was hit by a deflected puck. On Monday, winger Ryan Malone left the ice bloodied after being cut above his right eye by Marty St. Louis’ stick blade. It was an accident, but left Bugsy with a noticeable shiner and five stitches in his right eyebrow at yesterday’s practice.

Malone doesn’t wear a visor, but neither did Vincent Lecavalier or Marty St. Louis until they suffered facial injuries in the last few seasons. Bugsy was thankful the stick didn’t hit his eye, but as for a visor? It’s not something he thinks about.

Hockey players are grown men and it is still their choice. Unfortunately it takes more than just a close call for them to realize that visors just make sense.

Oh, Ryan. You will be slightly less handsome if your lovely eyes get smashed in. Think about it.