As the NHL’s grandfather clause nears its end, only three helmet-shield holdouts remain. Jamie Benn and his fellow veterans stand as the final links to hockey’s visorless era.
It's been 13 years since the NHL started requiring NHL players to wear visors. Beginning in 2013-14, under NHL Rule 9.7, “all players who have fewer than 25 games of NHL experience must wear a visor properly affixed to their helmet.” Since then, players who were grandfathered in have left the game and the numbers of a dying breed has been dwindling.
Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) and Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund (11) look on as the referees check the replay of a hit by defenseman Tyler Myers (not pictured) during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesLast Wednesday, Ryan Reaves announced his retirement from hockey. He was the last of four that were left. Now there are three: Jamie Benn, Ryan O'Reilly and Zach Bogosian. Benn is the oldest of the bunch at 37 and on his second one year contract in a row with the Stars. Last season, Jim Nill was very clear that there was a spot on the team for Benn if he wanted it and until the contract was signed, it seemed like there could be a question mark there. In the end, he returned for another year on a team-friendly deal.
O'Reilly is in the last year of his four year contract with the Nashville Predators and Bogosian is with the Minnesota Wild on a one year deal. With all three of them on expiring contracts, it is possible all three of them could leave the league after this season and then an era of hockey players would be extinct.
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