As PHT wrote earlier today, Brendan Shanahan has all he needs to throw the book at Raffi Torres.
It appears he’s preparing to do just that.
The NHL discipline czar has suspended Torres indefinitely pending an in-person hearing on Friday, Apr. 20. The hearing, which had been planned for today, was deferred at the request of Torres and the National Hockey League Players’ Association -- meaning the indefinite suspension will carry through Game 4 between the Coyotes and Blackhawks, to be played Thursday in Chicago.
The in-person hearing opens the door for Shanahan to suspend Torres for five games or more.
Torres, 30, could be in line for a massive punishment. He’s a repeat offender, having been suspended twice and fined once over the last 12 months. He also holds the reputation as a predatory checker that targets the head on plays where he’s not punished (like his hits on Brent Seabrook and Milan Michalek).
The optics surrounding his hit on Hossa are damning. The Chicago forward appeared unresponsive after being hit and was stretchered off the ice before heading to local hospital. Meanwhile, Torres went unpenalized and continued playing, finishing with over 20 minutes of ice time.
PHT Related
Tyson Nash received death threats for saying Torres’ hit on Hossa was clean
Raffi Torres is now Public Enemy No. 1 with the media