And then there were four.

With the retirement announcement from New York Islanders forward Matt Martin, the list of NHL players without a visor has lost one of the last five active members. 

That leaves only Jamie Benn, Ryan O'Reilly, Ryan Reaves and Zach Bogosian as the final four players to have their entire face exposed to the dangers of hockey, one last thing that reminds us of an era of hockey that used to be even more raw than today.

Back in the day, no one was overly concerned on long-term effects, head injuries or making sure the best players stayed healthy for the good of the league. It was about toughness, big hits, chucking knuckles and a somewhat blissful oblivion to the real damage the sport could cause.

Now, the game is all about skill, speed and the best players showcasing the excitement of the league. It is not to say the players are not tough or physical anymore. The sheer speed of the game makes every hit and every play even more dangerous than in the no helmet era of generations past.

No one is here to say one era is better than the other, but the four visorless players represent the last connection to a different time in hockey, and like it or not, should be appreciated for it.

Who knows how long Reaves can draw into an NHL lineup, as his skill continues to decline with age so much so that it might not be worth keeping him in for his other attributes, which have given him a pretty good career in the league.

Bogosian has played a bigger and better role in years past, up from seventh defenseman status to a regular in the Minnesota Wild lineup, but he too faces father time as he approaches age 35. 

O'Reilly and Benn are the two most likely to finish as the last player without a visor, but Benn had a bit of a dry spell at the end of the season and throughout the playoffs for Dallas.

Now, the Stars have a decision to make with Benn currently an unrestricted free agent and very minimal cap space for Dallas. The plan certainly seems to be in place for Benn to return, but there is still no contract in place.

Until the final four are finally phased out of the league, we should appreciate the rarity of seeing a player without a visor. Chances are it will never be seen again in professional hockey.

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