Raffi Torres Suspended Four Games

[Thrillhouse]

TORONTO – Vancouver Canucks forward Raffi Torres has been suspended for the Canucks’ final two regular season games and two playoff games, the National Hockey League announced today. Torres will forfeit $10,752.68 in salary for delivering an elbow to the head of Jordan Eberle of the Edmonton Oilers in NHL game #1192, April 5.

The incident occurred at 13:05 of the third period and Torres was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for elbowing.

His fine is based on his average annual salary and is calculated under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Torres will miss the Canucks’ final two regular season games -- tonight against the Minnesota Wild and Saturday at Calgary. He also will be ineligible for Vancouver’s first two playoff games.

[youthattack]

4 games for a clean hit?

thanks, nhl.

[peacemaker]

Originally Posted by youthattack

hit was clean.

what a fucking joke.

Irrelevant.

When you come on hf.com (presumably a place where you'd find fans of old school hockey), and half the people on this site are calling for a suspension for every hard hit, the powers that be have their hand forced and will be suspending at will now.

For as much ridicule as Bettman takes on this site, I'd say he's more old school than a lot of the people here.

[youthattack]

Originally Posted by peacemaker

Irrelevant.

When you come on hf.com (presumably a place where you'd find fans of old school hockey), and half the people on this site are calling for a suspension for every hard hit, the powers that be have their hand forced and will be suspending at will now.

For as much ridicule as Bettman takes on this site, I'd say he's more old school than a lot of the people here.

not me. with the way the nhl is going, i'll be done watching it soon.

already canceled my flyers ticket package for next year.

[hazard5]

Originally Posted by youthattack

4 games for a clean hit?

thanks, nhl.

I'm all for physical hockey, but with the increase of the speed of the game and the exponential increase in concussions, I don't think its too much for the league to suspend players that target the heads of other players WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE THE PUCK.

Torres threw a scumbag hit. It didn't even take any skill. Any player can line up a guy who is pursuing the puck. Everyone on the ice was pursuing the puck - except Torres who came flying in to throw a cheap shot. I don't care if he led with his shoulder. I don't even care if the hit was after the player had already passed the puck a few seconds before.

In both of those instances the puck carrier knows that a hit is coming and will keep his head up accordingly. But no player knows a hit is going to come from their blind side at top speed when they have their guard down because they aren't even in possession of the puck.

What sport are you watching?

[youthattack]

Originally Posted by hazard5

What sport are you watching?

the pussified "new nhl", which you seem to be a fan of.

[Orr4]

Cheap elbow to the head... That's not old school, it's head hunting and he SHOULD be suspended. What Fkn game are some of you watching? Clean Hit?

[nilan30]

Originally Posted by hazard5

I'm all for physical hockey, but with the increase of the speed of the game and the exponential increase in concussions, I don't think its too much for the league to suspend players that target the heads of other players WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE THE PUCK.

Torres threw a scumbag hit. It didn't even take any skill. Any player can line up a guy who is pursuing the puck. Everyone on the ice was pursuing the puck - except Torres who came flying in to throw a cheap shot. I don't care if he led with his shoulder. I don't even care if the hit was after the player had already passed the puck a few seconds before.

In both of those instances the puck carrier knows that a hit is coming and will keep his head up accordingly. But no player knows a hit is going to come from their blind side at top speed when they have their guard down because they aren't even in possession of the puck.

What sport are you watching?

I agree with this. There was nothing "tough" or "old school" about this hit.

[youthattack]

i'm surprised at some of you. head hunting? seriously? if eberle didn't have his head 3 feet off the ice, torres wouldn't have hit it. he led with his shoulder to eliminate eberle from the play. CLEAN HIT.

if this is the standard the nhl is setting, then next year zdeno chara will be suspended for 95% of the hits he makes. he will always contact a player's head because of his size.

what ever happened to keeping your head up?

this is not hockey.

[Fatt Patt]

You have got to be kidding me. Eberle already undersized as is was reaching down making his head at hip level on Torres. So now when a player puts themselves in a precarious position you have to hold up or alter your route, the NFL is already trying to implement this and look how it went over with them.

[Orr4]

You cannot elbow, shoulder etc another player in the head no matter where he is on the ice.

What dates encompass "old school" anyway? The same ones where hockey just about died, lost network sponsership and saw a bunch of teams move? Maybe old school ain't so great. Is it when checks changed from being used to separate a player from the puck to a chance to try to hurt another player? Dirty hits and goon fights will kill the league faster than Bettman.

[Sugden Flu]

The should've suspended him a long time ago, just for being named Raffi.

[canuckfan]

While I was expecting a suspension, losing Torres for two playoff games is what really gets me hot under the collar regarding this call by the league. Yeah, I get it - at best, it was a borderline hit and the NHL's showing everyone they're serious with these (sometimes perceived) shots to the head, and Torres has a reputation as a predator and maybe the league was waiting to make an example out of another player who sometimes toes that line between clean and dangerous play.

But still, conventional wisdom tells you a playoff game is easily worth 2 regular season games - so the way I see it Torres is being suspended 6 games for a hard hit on young, inexperienced player who put himself in a vulnerable position and wasn't even hurt on the play. What was an ok play a couple years ago is now worthy of a 4-6 game suspension.

And now the Canucks, who have already lost Malhotra for the year, lose their most physical forward for the first 2 games of a playoff series.

Personally, I didn't think the hit was THAT bad - there have been plenty worse seen this year - but the league's current stance and the overall pressure placed on them by everyone from parliament to the media to further crackdown meant that Torres didnt have a shot of missing less than the final 2 regular season games.

The league is sending a message alright - I just don't think I like what its all about. More like a huge overreaction imo.

But whatever - moving on. Just another player the Canucks will have to do without for a few more games...

[kam]

Originally Posted by Orr4

What dates encompass "old school" anyway? The same ones where hockey just about died, lost network sponsership and saw a bunch of teams move? Maybe old school ain't so great. Is it when checks changed from being used to separate a player from the puck to a chance to try to hurt another player? Dirty hits and goon fights will kill the league faster than Bettman.

I've heard and read about brainwashing but never come across someone that has been subject to it until I read this. I'll take your version of old school any day over the ice soccer we have now.


Clean hit.

[slavv]

I don't know where some of you guys come from! Clean hit??? Have you actually ever read a hockey rule book? Players need to be held accountable for their reckless play. There is too much lack of respect between players and it's ridiculous that you would support a potential career-ending hit on someone because you want to see ruthless aggression. The sport doesn't need you as a fan, as the sport doesn't need those players...