Raffi Torres is launching an appeal to the length of his 25-game suspension. The Phoenix Coyotes forward was banished for his hit to the head on Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa in Game 3 of their first-round series on April 17.
Hossa was injured on the play and didn’t return for the for the rest of the best-of-seven series, which the Coyotes won in six games.
The National Hockey League Players’ Association filed the appeal on behalf of Torres.
The length of the suspension means Torres is out for the rest of the NHL playoffs and will carry over into the 2012-13 regular season.
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The suspension was handed down by the NHL department of player safety headed by Brendan Shanahan, but the appeal will be heard by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
Shanahan determined that Torres broke three rules on the play – his hit was late (interference), he launched himself at Hossa (charging) and the hit targeted Hossa’s head (illegal check to the head)
“My main concern is for the healthy recovery of Marian Hossa, and I hope that he will be able to get back on the ice to compete again soon. I sincerely regret injuring Marian,” Torres said when the suspension was announced.
Torres’ suspension is the longest for an on-ice offence since New York Islanders forward Chris Simon was banned 30 games for stomping on the ankle of Pittsburgh’s Jarrko Ruutu in December 2007.
It also matches the second-longest suspension: Simon also was suspended 25 games for his two-handed stick attack to the face of New York Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg in 2007 and so was Philadelphia’s Jesse Boulerice for cross-checking Vancouver centre Ryan Kesler across the face in 2007.
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