The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that San Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres has been suspended for 41 games without pay for his hit on Anaheim Ducks forward Jakub Silfverberg during last Saturday’s preseason game. Silfverberg was not injured on the initial play, but did sit out the Ducks’ Monday practice.
The 33-year-old has been warned (2), fined (3) and suspended (4) on nine previous instances when he has delivered checks to his opponent’s heads.
Torres received a match penalty for an illegal check to the head, although the DOPS deemed that his hit was also interference. Video from the DOPS, which revealed the suspension’s length, included a further explanation of the illegal aspects of the hit:
“Rather than remaining crouched and driving through his opponent’s right shoulder, Torres drives his shoulder up and into the head of Silfverberg; his extension upward makes Silfverberg’s head the main point of contact.”
Torres had only played in 15 games after his last suspension when he laid a hit on Kings forward Jarret Stoll in Game 1 of the Sharks’ second round playoff series against Los Angeles in 2013. He then tore his ACL in a preseason matchup with the Anaheim Ducks, causing him to miss most of the 2013-2014 regular season.
Torres will forfeit $440,860.29 during his 41-game suspension. That money, under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
