The legendary mirror visors are back in the new version of NHL 23, and the fans were delighted. Exactly the same was worn by Alexander Ovechkin in the first year of performances overseas. However, the fashion element of the equipment unexpectedly caused controversy and discussion at the level of the league, union and general managers.

In general, Ovechkin knew how to attract attention not only by playing …

Ovi came up with a problem for the NHL

The league’s official social media page shared a still from NHL 23 showing Ovechkin in a mirrored visor.

This is now impossible to meet on the ice, and 15 years ago, the captain of “Washington” made a splash playing in it. He was the only hockey player in such equipment.

Photo: © Bruce Bennett / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Although it looked spectacular, opponents such as New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur complained that Ovechkin’s expression was impossible to see under the mirrored visor. Brodeur’s dissatisfaction can be understood: it was already difficult for the goalkeepers to stop the Russian sniper, and without seeing the face, it became completely impossible to predict where the puck would fly.

Ovi himself admitted that it was this visor that he liked the most. But after one season, the Russian had to part with him. At a meeting in the summer, general managers of NHL clubs massively criticized mirrored visors. 29 managers were against them, and only one was in favor. Capitals general manager George McPhee just couldn’t help but support his star.

Changed style and hit the mark again

Curiously, the decision of the general managers did not mean an automatic ban. Representatives of the NHL and the hockey players’ union also discussed the issue of the legitimacy of wearing them, but did not come to anything. Gary Bettman has been generally against mirror visors, arguing that they are banned in IIHF tournaments. But a couple of players from Los Angeles and Dallas, who were present at the discussion, said that their mirrored visors do not care at all, because during the match they do not look into the opponent’s eyes.

However, immediately after his debut season in the NHL, Ovechkin abandoned this piece of equipment. He didn’t wait for an official ban, dodged the question of what had become of his fashionable attribute, and simply decided to change his style. But Ovi would not have been Ovi if he hadn’t come up with something no less interesting: he decided to replace the mirrored visor with a tinted one, choosing from several options that the club had prepared at his request.

Photo: © Tom Szczerbowski / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Within a few years, the tinted visors were all over the NHL. But this time, for a specific purpose.

“This is my style”

In the 2013-14 season, the NHL introduced an official rule regarding visors – they became mandatory for all players who played less than 25 league games. Also, hockey players with a face or head injury were allowed to wear any protective visor with the permission of the club doctor.

That’s when players started wearing tinted visors, which provide relief from concussions by smoothing out the brightness of the light during a match. This avoids migraines and promotes rapid recovery. They are also worn by players with vision problems. Similar visors were worn by David Perron, Mark Borovetsky, Max Domi, Evander Kane and dozens of other hockey players.

Many of them donned helmets with tinted glass for the purpose of post-traumatic recovery. But Ovi did not pursue such a goal. It turned out that he was a fan of the legendary Canadian hockey player Theo Fleury, who was the first to ever wear a blackout visor and yellow laces – another element of Ovi’s equipment that has always attracted the attention of fans not only with the game, but also with the appearance.

“That’s my style,” the Russian shortly answered when asked about the mirrored and darkened visors a few years ago. Since the mirror visor is not officially banned in the NHL, there is still a chance to see Ovechkin in it. This is going to be a blast.