It should have been a triumphant return.
After two hellish years of multiple right ACL surgeries and subsequent infections, including missing all of the 2014-15 season, Sharks forward Raffi Torres had seemingly secured himself a spot in the Sharks’ opening night lineup on Wednesday vs. the Kings. He was an NHL player again, when that was far from certain just a few short months ago.
Now, after leveling the Ducks’ Jacob Silfverberg with a hit to the head in a preseason game in Anaheim on Saturday, it’s probable that Torres' return will be delayed.
Instead of being an opening night example of hard work dedication to the game, Torres could very well be made an example of – again – by Gary Bettman and the NHL’s department of player safety: An early season reminder to the league else that the types of hits that Torres threw on Saturday just won’t be tolerated.