Kyle McLaren

It is probably a funny thing to remember first and foremost about a player, but when you mention the name Kyle McLaren, I always think of the yellow tinted visor he wore. He wore it just for parts of two seasons because it reduced the glare off the ice. McLaren's found his eyes were a little more sensitive to such light following a scary 2003 injury where McLaren took a Sami Salo slapshot to the face. True to hockey player folklore, McLaren only missed six games. 

By the way, and I stand to be corrected here, I believe Eric Weinrich is the only other NHL player to have worn a yellow tinted visor. Tell me in the comments if there are any more.

Back to Kyle McLaren. Born on June 18, 1977, in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, McLaren was known for his physical presence and defensive abilities on the ice. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 225 pounds, he was a formidable force on the blue line. McLaren possessed a hard-hitting style of play and was adept at clearing the front of the net and blocking shots.

After a successful junior hockey career with the Tacoma Rockets in the Western Hockey League (WHL), McLaren was selected by the Boston Bruins as the ninth overall pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut during the 1995-1996 season and quickly established himself as a reliable defenseman. McLaren spent seven seasons with the Bruins, during which he developed into one of the team's top defensemen.

In 2002, McLaren was traded to the San Jose Sharks, where he played for six seasons. He continued to excel as a physical defenseman, earning a reputation for his tough and hard-nosed style of play. McLaren was a key component of the Sharks' defensive core and provided stability to their blue line.

In addition to his time with the Bruins and Sharks, McLaren also had brief stints with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, injuries plagued his later years in the NHL, limiting his playing time and impacting his performance.

No longer able to pass a NHL physical, McLaren announced his retirement from professional hockey in 2010. Over the course of his NHL career, he played a total of 719 regular-season games, recording 31 goals, 112 assists, and accumulating 1,007 penalty minutes.

Following his retirement, McLaren has been involved in various hockey-related activities, including coaching and development programs for young players. He has also participated in alumni events and charitable endeavors associated with the NHL.