SAN JOSE – Timing-wise, it could have been much worse from the Sharks’ perspective. After dealing with countless distractions last season, the Raffi Torres half-season suspension occurred prior to the season opener, which should allow the club to quickly turn its focus towards the Kings on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
Still, that was of little consolation to the players in the dressing room, especially those who have been around Torres for the past two injury-riddled years. On the morning of his preseason debut on Sep. 25 there was a sense of excitement that Torres had made it back onto the ice, and coach Pete DeBoer even put Torres in the starting lineup in recognition of the 33-year-old forward’s long and brutal road.