Raffi Torres’ 25-game suspension reduced by Gary Bettman on NHLPA appeal

Raffi Torres was suspended 25 games back on April 21 for putting Marian Hossa of the Chicago Blackhawks on a stretcher with a hit to the head. A repeat offender, Torres's ban was a third-longest suspension in NHL history, potentially made even longer when you factor in the preseason games Torres would miss next season.

The NHLPA and Torres appealed the suspension on May 3, taking their case to HNL Commissioner Gary Bettman … who, of course, hired NHL Executive VP of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan … who, of course, suspended Torres for 25 games.

But despite all of that, Bettman has decided to reduce Torres's suspension to 21 games and the preseason, meaning that he'll only serve eight games in the regular season.

Boy, that decision took a while. The Stanley Cup Final ended ages ago, and Bettman said he just needed time to write out his ruling. Wonder what the delay was oh that's right it's completely timed for the opening of the CBA talks.

That cynicism aside, the NHL did the right thing here. The major thrust of the suspension was to not allow Torres to appear again in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Coyotes played 13 games without him in the postseason, and eventually were eliminated by the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Final. The initial suspension was egregious and heavy-handed; this at least rectifies some of that.

What it doesn't do: Make any distinction between suspended players missing preseason or regular-season games, which is a point of clarification we imagine the NHLPA would like to see. Shanahan built preseason games into suspension last season; now they seemingly don't count toward Torres's total.

What it also doesn't do: Make any of us less skeptical and weary of a process in which the NHL is the law enforcement, the judge and jury and the appellate court. A few games shaved off an excessive suspension doesn't change that.