Ruling Coming On Whether Torres' Suspension Could Be Cut For Hit On Hossa
NEW YORK (CBS) -- A published report says the Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres could see his suspension reduced, more than two months after he delivered a hit on the Blackhawks' Marian Hossa that left the winger out for the rest of the teams' playoff series.
Torres was suspended 25 games following the hit, but the NHL Players' Association appealed the length of the suspension soon afterward, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Commissioner Gary Bettman said he would wait until the Stanley Cup Finals were over to make a decision on whether to shorten the suspension, the newspaper reported.
The ruling could come Thursday or Friday, the Sun-Times reported.
Torres has already served 13 games of his suspension, and he missed the second and third rounds of what turned out to be the Coyotes' longest playoff run in history. The 12 games for which he would still be suspended carry over into next season, the Sun-Times reported.
Hossa suffered a major concussion as a result of the hit, and would have missed the rest of the playoffs had the Blackhawks advanced. They ended up losing to the Coyotes.
