Sharks’ Raffi Torres suspended 41 games for hit on Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg

San Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres was suspended for 41 games Monday for an illegal check to the head of Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg.

It is the longest suspension in NHL history in terms of the number of games.

Torres will forfeit $440,860 in salary for the suspension. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Torres knocked Silfverberg out of the Ducks’ preseason finale last Saturday when he hit Silfverberg in the first period at Honda Center. Torres was ejected with a match penalty.

Torres has previously been suspended four times in his NHL career, the latest for a hit to the head of the Kings’ Jarret Stoll in the 2013 playoffs.

Silfverberg missed practice Monday and Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau did not have an update, although Boudreau said after the game that Silfverberg was fine and held out for precautionary reasons.

Chris Simon of the New York Islanders received a 30-game suspension for a skate-stomping incident in 2007. Billy Coutu of the Boston Bruins received a two-and-a-half-year ban in 1927 for assaulting an official, and former King Marty McSorley was suspended a year for striking Donald Brashear with his stick in 2000.

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