Torres takes big hit from NHL

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GLENDALEPhoenix forward Raffi Torres was suspended 25 games for violating three NHL rules with his hit on Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa last week.In his video explanation, Brendan Shanahan said that Torres hit on Hossa in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series violated three rules: interference, charging and an illegal check to the head. Two other factors, Shanahan said, led to the lengthy suspension. Marian Hossa suffered a major injury on the playhe was taken off on a stretcherand Torres has been suspendedfined five previous times, including recently, for hits very similar to the one on Hossa.Torres is not only a repeat offender, but his extensive discipline history consists of acts similar to this one, including two this season, Shanahan said in his video. Shanahan referred to these hits: Hits to the head to David Moss (2007) and Patrick Berglund (2009), elbows to the head of Jordan Eberle (2010) and Jan Hejda (2011), and a chargecontact to the head on Nate Prosser (2011).On the violation of the illegal check to the head, Shanahan said, the position of Hossas head doesnt change significantly just prior tosimultaneously with this hit. The onus is on Torres not to make it the principal point of contact. By leaping, he makes it a principal point of contact.If the 25 games cant be served by the conclusion of these Stanley Cup playoffs, then the remaining games of the suspension will carry over to the following regular season. Torres will be prohibited from playing any preseason games until his 25-game suspension is served.Should the suspension carry over to next season, because he is classified as a repeat offender under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Torres will forfeit 21,341.46 in salary for every regular-season game in which he is ineligible to play.Hossas status has not changed, according to Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville, since the hit. He is not on this trip.

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