Raffy Torres Suspended Indefinitely

[doug shank's crossover]

Phoenix Coyote player Rafael Torres was just indefinitely suspended by the NHL for his head shot on Blackhawk player Marian Hossa. Hockey fans take note....the NHL is following suit with the NFL protecting against unwarranted head shots....hopefully they won't go overboard like the NFL did.

Well deserved suspension.

[Da Coach]

The "indefinite suspension" is actually nothing more than a short-term temporary decision until an in-person disciplinary hearing can be held Friday in New York with the NHL Player Safety panel. An in-person hearing is rare in the NHL, and likely signals that the suspension will turn into a long one (probably 5 to 10 games)

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/story/_/id/7828639/2012-stanley-cup-playoffs-phoenix-coyotes-raffi-torres-suspended-hearing-hit-chicago-blackhawks-marian-hossa

http://blogs.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2012/04/raffi_torres_suspended_indefin.html

The shame of the NHL is that neither of the 2 referees nor the 2 linesmen apparently saw the hit on Marian Hossa of the Blackhawks, and no penalty of any kind was called. It should have been a major penalty and a game misconduct, IMO.
It was one of the most viscious, illegal direct-to-the-head hits I have ever seen in the NHL in a while. Torres, a repeat offender, clearly took a few extra strides, left his feet, and targeted Hossa's head with his shoulder (all of which are illegal), all while Hossa was not able to see the hit coming.

[doug shank's crossover]

And.......one of the referees was literally 15' away looking right at it!!! Amazing.

[AZ BU Fan]

Ok, if Hossa jumps back up and heads to the bench, and sits out rest of game, is everyone still hysterical over the hit? I have seen much worse hits that resulted in no penalties and no interference from the League Office. The fact he was on the ice for awhile, and then melodramatically carried off on a stretcher is all people see. He was released from the hospital, and, apparently UNHURT, or didn't have any serious or lingering injuries, at least as far as the doctors public comments to the media. All that is said is he has to be closely watched at home, for what? No mention of concusson, consuccion syndromes etc. Wind knocked out of him?

The fact it wasn't called by the 4 OFFICIALS present and everyone had to watch in super slow motion to begin their dissection of the play indicates how boderline this case is. Don't want to heat about the 4 game suspension of the Hawks player, he violated the long time policy to not hit goalies (quarterbacks).... Hossa was in center ice and just pulled off a pass....

Torres request to hold off on the meeting with League Officials was a smart move, wanting to hold off on meeting with the League Office so everyone could see how badly Hossa was actually injured, if at all, on the play...

If Hossa comes back Thursday, plays, and doesn't miss a beat, Torres benching Thursday may be all the penalty he gets (unless of course the League really prefers Chicago to remain in the playoffs vs the Coyotes from a ratings in the midwest/east coast standpoint.

[lake Camelot]

I agree the result of the hit shouldn't matter.

I will say I am a recent NHL fan that doesn't really like the fighting. That is why I like the Blackhawks they play hockey and don't have many fights.

However Torres has a history and it was a dirty hit so I think at least eight games would be a good number.

[Da Coach]

Ok, if Hossa jumps back up and heads to the bench, and sits out rest of game, is everyone still hysterical over the hit? I have seen much worse hits that resulted in no penalties and no interference from the League Office. The fact he was on the ice for awhile, and then melodramatically carried off on a stretcher is all people see. He was released from the hospital, and, apparently UNHURT, or didn't have any serious or lingering injuries, at least as far as the doctors public comments to the media. All that is said is he has to be closely watched at home, for what? No mention of concusson, consuccion syndromes etc. Wind knocked out of him?

The fact it wasn't called by the 4 OFFICIALS present and everyone had to watch in super slow motion to begin their dissection of the play indicates how boderline this case is. Don't want to heat about the 4 game suspension of the Hawks player, he violated the long time policy to not hit goalies (quarterbacks).... Hossa was in center ice and just pulled off a pass....

Torres request to hold off on the meeting with League Officials was a smart move, wanting to hold off on meeting with the League Office so everyone could see how badly Hossa was actually injured, if at all, on the play...

If Hossa comes back Thursday, plays, and doesn't miss a beat, Torres benching Thursday may be all the penalty he gets (unless of course the League really prefers Chicago to remain in the playoffs vs the Coyotes from a ratings in the midwest/east coast standpoint.

Please, Hossa was knocked out. He laid on the ice for several minutes because he couldn't get up. He had to be lifted and taken off on a stretcher, strapped to a board, and didn't return. He wasn't trying to act it up, since Torres was not even penalized, what good would that do? Unlike Mike Smith the earlier game who clearly sold his injury quite well by flailing on the ice for 10 minutes to ensure the maximum penalty be give to Hawks Andrew Shaw. Then he popped right back up and never missed a second of action just like the soccer players love to do it. Hossa sustained a significant injury, and is likely to miss Thursday's game, as well as possibly more. If you think Hossa was acting, then you either never saw the hit, or you are the only person who has that thinks that way.
BTW, Shaw was given 3 games suspension for a hit that was as much Smith's fault for leaning onto Shaw as he tried to get around Smith, and Shaw is not a multiple repeat offender like Raffi is. Torres will sit for at least 5 games, and it should be for much more.
And you lose any remaining credibility or claim to objectiveness with your last statement. The officiating has clearly favored Phoenix. Remember the NHL owns the Phoenix franchise, so clearly they would prefer them to win, and make their value rise if and when anyone thinks that doomed franchise in the desert can survive there.

[AZ BU Fan]

Please, Hossa was knocked out. He laid on the ice for several minutes because he couldn't get up. He had to be lifted and taken off on a stretcher, strapped to a board, and didn't return. He wasn't trying to act it up, since Torres was not even penalized, what good would that do? Unlike Mike Smith the earlier game who clearly sold his injury quite well by flailing on the ice for 10 minutes to ensure the maximum penalty be give to Hawks Andrew Shaw. Then he popped right back up and never missed a second of action just like the soccer players love to do it. Hossa sustained a significant injury, and is likely to miss Thursday's game, as well as possibly more. If you think Hossa was acting, then you either never saw the hit, or you are the only person who has that thinks that way.
BTW, Shaw was given 3 games suspension for a hit that was as much Smith's fault for leaning onto Shaw as he tried to get around Smith, and Shaw is not a multiple repeat offender like Raffi is. Torres will sit for at least 5games, and it should be for much more.

And you lose any remaining credibility or claim to objectiveness with your last statement. The officiating has clearly favored Phoenix. Remember the NHL owns the Phoenix franchise, so clearly they would prefer them to win, and make their value rise if and when anyone thinks that doomed franchise in the desert can survive there.

Guess there can't be ANY Blackhawk bias from Hawk fans (see paragraph 2 above)

If Phoenix were playing the Vacnouver Cannucks or Detroit Red Wings and the play happened, would your opinion change, or, your over the top request for Torres head on a platter change? I suspect Hawk fans would be jumping for joy if one of their other competitors were involved....

Have the docs or Black Hawks declared any serious injuries, or long term damage to Hossa? I haven't seen anything yet that he will miss Thursday. Either Blackhawk mgmt is playing games with his injuries, or, Hossa will be back on the ice Thursday. Will be interesting to see what happens...that is why Torres wants to hold off on the hearing with the League..... If Hossa is back on the ice full time, 1 game suspension is appropriate.

No chance Hossa was knocked out because his head hit the ice when he fell backwards? That can happen anytime a player is knocked down, which happens a lot in hockey.

Would be frustrating to a Hawk fan I suppose if a low budget franchise which can't sign any star players knocks off the multi $$$ Blackhawks from the playoffs.

I can also agree the 3 gamer assessed to Shaw might have been excessive, but, the NHL is more concerned about goalies being knocked around than skaters, and, goalies have always been considered 'untouchable' outside the crease...

I also find it implausible Smith tried to 'sell' anything....He has no history of this and it was a bang bang play that would not have given Smith any time to think up going 'Sonny Liston' on Shaw... (youngsters, look it up!)

[Da Coach]

Talk about bias- you are discussing every possibility of how this isn't an illegal hit, and how Torres isn't to blame, when it is clear that it is. Hossa's head does not appear to strike the ice, and he is clearly out of it when he was hit, not after he landed.. Of course the Blackhawks aren't releasing his personal medical info- no hockey team ever does, so stop suggesting that is proof he's not seriously injured. I am hearing he will miss at least a game, probably more.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/chi-blackhawks-hossa-ruled-out-for-game-4-vs-coyotes-20120418,0,2566223.story

Read what other non-biased people have to say.

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Raffi+Torres+2012+playoff+violence+what+they+saying/6479176/story.html

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/T...316/story.htmlo

http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/leading-off-what-will-it-take-to-stop-the-carnage/

http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2012/4/18/2956242/raffi-torres-hit-on-marian-hossa

Even the Coyotes announcers who initially thought it was a legal hit, are now saying 100% the opposite. But don't take my word for it, let's see what the NHL office does. I will bet you that Torres gets a long suspension- at least 5 games and maybe as many as 10 or more.

[cpacmel]

Hossa ruled OUT for game 4: http://espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/story...hoenix-coyotes

[Old Coach]

It's difficult to legislate intent, but when a player like Torres is involved. It's more than fair to give consideration to his past assaults. Players should not be knocked unconscious or concussed. Unlike football, the head should never be part of the play in hockey.

[AZ BU Fan]

I watched the play several times on my DVR in slow mo to understand Torres motivation...

Hossa had the puck along the boards heading into Coyote zone, and then stops and pivots off the Coyote player trying to check him into the boards.

Hossa spins back around toward center ice with the puck. Torres heads to Hossa to check..

The first Coyote player on Hossa then poke checks the puck off of Hossa's stick from way behind Hossa. Hossa continues to skate toward center ice toward the now loose puck that was pushed off his stick as Torres hits him.

Torres may not have even seen the puck poke checked off of Hossa's stick from behind. He sees Hossa pivoting with the puck and heading to center ice by himself.

Hossa may or may not have seen Torres coming as he may have been looking down for the puck off his stick.

If Hossa not knocked out, is everyone still bent out of shape, or, is it just a hard hit which is done all the time in center ice when players go flying toward pucks or make blind spins....

If just a tough hit on Hossa if he isn't concussed, hard to level huge penalty on Torres.... The check is he same if Hossa gets up or doesn't.

If leaving his feet to check (which lots of players do all the time when a player is checked up against the boards) is over the top, then the one game suspension would be appropriate.

Just my humble Coyote fan opinion...

PS the nearest official didn't see the play cause just as Hossa spins with the puck off the boards just inside the Coyote blue line, another Coyote player and Blackhawks player go crashing into the boards behind and to the left of the official, drawing his attention to their collision and taking his eyes off of Hossa/Torres right before the Torres hit.

Blackhawk fans are also due their own opinion/interpretation

Stay tuned for Game 4 tonight!

[Old Coach]

AZ - The conversation begins and ends with contact to the head. That and Torres's history of head hunting and concussing players. When you concuss people more than 3 times in less than a year, in my world, you lose the benefit of the doubt.

[Bravesfan]

Guess there can't be ANY Blackhawk bias from Hawk fans (see paragraph 2 above)

If Phoenix were playing the Vacnouver Cannucks or Detroit Red Wings and the play happened, would your opinion change, or, your over the top request for Torres head on a platter change? I suspect Hawk fans would be jumping for joy if one of their other competitors were involved....

Have the docs or Black Hawks declared any serious injuries, or long term damage to Hossa? I haven't seen anything yet that he will miss Thursday. Either Blackhawk mgmt is playing games with his injuries, or, Hossa will be back on the ice Thursday. Will be interesting to see what happens...that is why Torres wants to hold off on the hearing with the League..... If Hossa is back on the ice full time, 1 game suspension is appropriate.

No chance Hossa was knocked out because his head hit the ice when he fell backwards? That can happen anytime a player is knocked down, which happens a lot in hockey.

Would be frustrating to a Hawk fan I suppose if a low budget franchise which can't sign any star players knocks off the multi $$$ Blackhawks from the playoffs.

I can also agree the 3 gamer assessed to Shaw might have been excessive, but, the NHL is more concerned about goalies being knocked around than skaters, and, goalies have always been considered 'untouchable' outside the crease...

I also find it implausible Smith tried to 'sell' anything....He has no history of this and it was a bang bang play that would not have given Smith any time to think up going 'Sonny Liston' on Shaw... (youngsters, look it up!)

AZ, you're a good person, and I enjoy our discussions throughout the year on the boards. But you have to look at this more objectively than as a fan of the team this player plays on. I don't care if Torres played on the Hawks, the Coyotes or any other NHL team. That was a dirty play beyond belief, and the fact that he will be involved in an in-person hearing tomorrow tells me the league believes this too. Forget the fact that the refs played dumb and did not give the Hawks a five minute power play, and throw Torres out of the game. Torres will still get the punishment he deserves, and we will' know by this time tomorrow what it is.

By the way. What an ugly UGLY loss again tonight for the Hawks! Congrats to the Coyotes AZ for their win tonight. It looks like they wanted the game more.

[AZ BU Fan]

I capitulate! Torres busted!






PS Go Coyotes!

[Old Coach]

At this point, it looks like Nashville might gain the most from a Torres suspension.