Thursday, October 20, 2005

David Guralnick / The Detroit News Kris Draper could play this weekend if the swelling and fluid buildup subside around the retina in his right eye. "I was fortunate," he said.; Yzerman

Hit an eye-opener for Draper

He will wear a visor from now on and knows damage caused by puck could have been worse.

By Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News

Seeing clearly Should the NHL require that all players wear visors? Yes No Get results and comments Online extras Red Wings schedule Red Wings roster Red Wings depth chart Player stats Team stats NHL free agents Wings Talk forum Wings wallpaper Sports Challenge: Pick the NHL winners weekly, win prizes Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

DETROIT -- The response was quick and clear from Kris Draper.

When asked if he will wear a visor after a scare Monday, when a puck hit the right side of his face, striking the eye, he didn't hesitate.

"It's already on," said Draper, whose eye was almost completely shut, with obvious swelling and a bad bruise around it.

But at least he can see. The alternative might have been worse, and he knows it.

"I feel all right, lucky, from how it could have been," said Draper, whose orbital bone will be evaluated Friday.

He could begin practicing as early as today. And if the swelling around the retina and fluid build-up subside, he is likely to play this weekend.

"It was a freak thing. Sometimes the use of sticks, something happens and it's accidental. This, all it was, I was backchecking and it (the puck) deflected off a stick and I never saw it coming. ...

"I know how lucky I was. It was pretty close. Talking to the doctors, they recommended it, as soon as I come back playing, I'd have to wear it anyways. It's something that I'm going to give it a real strong effort.

"It's kind of different now. You wake up in the morning and the kids see you, and obviously it scares them, and it puts everything into perspective."

Draper escaped serious injury a few years ago when a stick glanced off his eye. That led to his wearing a visor for a time.

He eventually took it off, but he wore it during the world championships and while skating during the lockout last season.

After Monday's scare, Draper said he'll force himself to get used to wearing the visor, if need be.

"This is different, it's not just about me anymore," said Draper, comparing this incident to the previous one. "All of a sudden you look at your kids and they look back at you and they're squinting and trying to find their dad behind the mask he's wearing right now. It's a little bit different, and puts a scare, not only in myself but my kids as well. That's something that has hit home the last couple of days."

Although he has worn a visor, he took it off for comfort reasons.

Foremost, sweat would drop continually onto the visor and obstruct his vision for faceoffs.

"If that's the only thing, I have to deal with it and move on from there," Draper said. "Playing and skating around, it didn't bother me that much.

"You have (players) like Pavel (Datsyuk) and Hank (Zetterberg), Joe Sakic and (Peter) Forsberg (all wear visors), it doesn't seem to bother their game. There's no reason I can't get used to it."

Visor reaction

Draper's injury, along with the one to Toronto's Mats Sundin (broken orbital bone) on opening night and Steve Yzerman's serous eye injury in the 2004 playoffs, have put the spotlight on visors early in the season.

Players still feel as if the decision to wear a visor should be an individual choice.

But there is a sense that if the league were to mandate that everyone wear visors, players could live with the decision.

"I got used to it, and at the end, it didn't bother me at all," said defenseman Jiri Fischer, who had to wear a visor in the Czech Republic league last season. (Visors are mandatory for Czech players under 30.)

"I wouldn't mind it (wearing a visor) at all. It has its benefits, but there's downsides to it, also. Everybody sees the pucks in the face, and getting hit around the eyes, and thinks it would prevent injuries. But if you get (hit) in the visor with a shoulder, easily it'll smash your nose no matter what."

Coach Mike Babcock said players should be able to decide for themselves, but he believes decisions change once kids come into the equation.

"When you have kids at home, you decide life would be better with my eyes than without them," Babcock said. "Nobody plans on getting injuried. It's an individual preference thing."

Yzerman update

Yzerman (groin) was on the ice briefly Tuesday, took part in a couple of drills, but had to leave.

Still bothered by a pulled groin he suffered Saturday in Phoenix, Yzerman isn't expected to play Friday against Anaheim and might not play in two weekend games against Columbus.

"I'm not counting on him for the weekend," Babcock said.

A groin injury, not related to this one, forced Yzerman to miss the season's first four games.

Ice chips

Brendan Shanahan (sore lower back) also missed Wednesday's practice. Babcock didn't expect the injury to force Shanahan out of the lineup.

"It's nothing at all, he's just sore," Babcock said.

...Wings fans might not see Sergei Fedorov when the Ducks visit. Fedorov missed two straight games because of a groin injury and is listed as day to day.

... Babcock coached the Ducks the last two seasons before coming to the Wings. So he said it will be special to play against them Friday. But he expects it to be more emotional when the Wings visit Anaheim.

You can reach Ted Kulfan at (313) 223-4606 or ted.kulfan@detnews.com.