No slap on the wrist, here.
San Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres was handed a 41-game suspension by the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Monday for his illegal check to the head of Anaheim Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg in the preseason.
The NHL cites Torres' lengthy suspension history, and Silfverberg's head being the main point of contact as reason for the jarring decision:
Torres' ban - which will push his career suspension total to 74 games - is the third-longest suspension in league history.
He will forfeit just short of $441,000 as a result.
Torres has been limited to just 15 appearances in a Sharks' uniform after suffering a series of knee injuries, so he isn't technically a "repeat offender" under the current CBA despite having nine totals warnings, fines, and suspensions over the course of his career.
This could help him in a potential appeal process, but clearly was not a factor in the NHL's decision.
He will be eligible to return Jan. 14 when the Sharks host the Edmonton Oilers.
