With knee issues still limiting him, Raffi Torres isn’t as mobile as he once was. Apparently he still moves well enough to leave the usual path of destruction.
It’s the pre-season, so it’s unclear if we’ll get a good look at the check, but Torres received a match penalty for his hit on Anaheim Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg.
Most accounts were pretty critical of the San Jose Sharks’ chief troublemaker:
Jakob Silfverberg to the trainer's room after a nasty hit by Raffi Torres, who got a match penalty for a hit to the head.
— Curtis Zupke (@curtiszupke) October 4, 2015
Which leads to the very question of 'What is Raffi Torres thinking?' with his history as a serious prior offender.
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) October 4, 2015
Here we go again. Raffi Torres gets match penalty for illegal contact to the head of Jakob Silfverberg.
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) October 4, 2015
It’s too early to tell if Silfverberg is injured. If he is, that’s a significant loss for the Ducks, as he really showed signs of fulfilling his promise (especially during the 2015 playoffs).
As far as Torres goes, he’s hoping to play in the Sharks’ season-opener. Wherever he ends up, he’ll certainly make plenty of enemies on the ice.
Whether it was because of that hit or just the general distaste shared by those sides, it sounds like tonight’s Sharks - Ducks exhibition is getting ugly, in general:
Maroon now lands hard into the boards after Haley catches him. Five-minute major.
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) October 4, 2015
Another five-minute major by SJ. Sharks have their JV team, and this could get ugly with a bunch of guys trying to make an, um, impression.
— Curtis Zupke (@curtiszupke) October 4, 2015
This post will be updated if video of the hit becomes available, and also if we get a better idea of Silfverberg’s condition.
Update: Bullet dodged?
Boudreau on @jsilfverberg33: "He's ok, and thank goodness for that. We decided to keep him out. He could have played."
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) October 4, 2015