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Lightning bits: Yzerman advises players to wear visors, Ryan Malone should be ready for next season

Steven Stamkos

Blood drips from the nose of Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos as he skates off the ice after being hit in the face by a Boston Bruins shot during the second period in Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference final series, Friday, May 27, 2011, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

AP

While they did lose Sean Bergenheim and some support players, there are still plenty of reasons to be positive about the Tampa Bay Lightning. The team’s new vision can be seen in the form of their new uniforms, their promising first run of results under new management and a bright future fueled by Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis and other talented players.

GM Steve Yzerman just hopes that this solid vision of the future doesn’t get impaired by a wayward puck to the face. Months ago, Yzerman issued a challenge to players to wear visors next season, a challenge that makes Raw Charge’s John Fontana curious now that training camp is right around the corner.

As Fontana mentions, the team has some direct anecdotes about the importance of wearing a face shield. An errant puck struck Yzerman in the eye during the 2004 playoffs and ultimately ended his career. The Lightning team itself dealt with near-disaster when Stamkos’ nose was damaged by a Johnny Boychuk slap shot. While his visor didn’t keep him from getting hurt at all, one can only imagine the damage that would have come from that incident if he wasn’t wearing one. Instead of scary consequences, Stamkos barely missed any shifts during that Game 7 match against the Boston Bruins.

Ryan Malone is among the players who don’t want to deal with the negative aspects of wearing a visor. It’s reasonable for some to feel like a worried mother when a son goes out in cold weather without a jacket when it comes to visors, but it’s ultimately a player’s choice to make.

Malone is currently recovering from shoulder surgery, which is a situation the Lightning are monitoring closely. The latest update from Damian Cristodero reveals that Malone will probably miss all but two preseason games (he’s reportedly expected to appear in their final two contests on September 29 and October 1), yet he should be able to start the 2011-12 season.

Aside from polarizing winger Steve Downie, the Lightning’s top six forwards are almost exclusively finesse players. Having Malone in the mix (often on one of those top two lines) gives Tampa Bay a presence in front of the net and in the dirtier areas of the ice. Judging from his shoulder issues, that style of play takes its toll, but the Lightning obviously hope to have him back for the beginning of next season. So far, it sounds like that is a strong possibility - just don’t ask him to put on a visor.

(H/T to Rotoworld.)