NHL slams Sharks’ Raffi Torres with 41-game suspension

SAN JOSE, Calif. _ The NHL threw the book at Raffi Torres on Monday, suspending the Sharks forward 41 games for his illegal hit on Jakob Silfverberg in San Jose’s final preseason game.tmpplchld It’s the second longest suspension in league history, and the longest in the 25-year history of the Sharks franchise. There was no word from the Sharks or the NHL Player’s Association on whether there would be an appeal.tmpplchld It’s the fifth time Torres has been suspended in his NHL career. He will miss half of the regular season.tmpplchld 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. Replays showed that Torres’ left shoulder made direct contact with Silfverberg’s face after Silfverberg released the puck.tmpplchld Torres was and ejected from the game for the hit. Silfverberg left the ice and did not return. Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said Silfverberg could have returned if needed, but was held out for precautionary reasons.tmpplchld Torres was technically not considered a repeat offender since he has not had any suspensions in the last 18 months. But NHL rules state that “even if a player is not defined as a repeat offender, his past history may come into consideration when determining future supplemental discipline.”tmpplchld Torres has been previously suspended four times in his NHL career, the latest coming in Game 1 of the second round of the 2013 playoffs. Torres hit Jarret Stoll of the Los Angeles Kings, making contact with the head, and was suspended for the remainder of the series. Stoll missed the next six games as well with head and shoulder injuries.tmpplchld Torres played in two preseason games before Saturday as he returned from nearly an 18-month layoff following two surgeries on his right knee.tmpplchld Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Torres will forfeit $440,860.29. The money goes to the Players.tmpplchld ___tmpplchld (c)2015 San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)tmpplchld Visit the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) at www.mercurynews.comtmpplchld Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.tmpplchld