NHL slams Sharks’ Raffi Torres with 41-game suspension

The NHL threw the book at Raffi Torres on Monday, suspending the Sharks forward 41 games for his illegal hit on Jakob Silfverberg http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/13818055/nhl-nhl-says-enough-san-jose-sharks-raffi-torres-41-game-suspensionCCin San Jose’s final preseason game. It’s the second-longest suspension in league history, and the longest in the 25-year history of the Sharks franchise.http://www.mercurynews.com/sharks/ci_28924638/nhl-slams-sharks-raffi-torres-41-game-suspensionCC There was no word from the Sharks or the NHL Players’ Association on whether there would be an appeal. It’s the fifth time Torres has been suspended in his NHL career.http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/13818055/nhl-nhl-says-enough-san-jose-sharks-raffi-torres-41-game-suspensionCC He will miss half of the regular season. Torres was given a 10-minute misconduct and a match penalty for his hit on Silfverberg with 7:15 to go in the first period of Saturday’s game against the Ducks.http://www.mercurynews.com/sharks/ci_28924638/nhl-slams-sharks-raffi-torres-41-game-suspensionCC Replays showed that Torres’ left shoulder made direct contact with Silfverberg’s face after Silfverberg released the puck.http://www.mercurynews.com/sharks/ci_28924638/nhl-slams-sharks-raffi-torres-41-game-suspensionCC