Truth & Rumors > NHL

08:15 AM ET 05.18 | On Friday, San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson revealed his thoughts about the league-mandated suspension to veteran forward Raffi Torres. Torres was banned for the remainder of the Sharks' second-round series against Los Angeles for an illegal hit to the head of forward Jarret Stoll during the second period of the Kings' 2-0 Game 1 win on Tuesday. "The Sharks organization fully supports the NHL in its efforts to remove illegal and dangerous hits from the game but we strongly disagree with the NHL's decision to suspend Raffi Torres," Wilson said in a statement. "Upon review of the incident, it is abundantly clear that this was a clean hockey hit. As noted by the NHL, Raffi's initial point of contact was a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on an opponent who was playing the puck. He did not leave his feet or elevate, he kept his shoulder tucked and elbow down at his side, and he was gliding -- not skating or charging. "As evidenced in the video, just prior to Torres making contact with the opposing player, that player altered his posture to play a bouncing puck with his hand, placing himself in a vulnerable position.

Chicago Tribune

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07:59 AM ET 05.18 | Brad Richards being benched and demoted to the fourth line, not once, not twice, but game after game after game in the playoffs, and that is a pretty darn big deal, even as it has somehow become business as usual for the Rangers. I mean, it's Brad Richards. Make no mistake: Richards is one of John Tortorella's favorite players ever. Richards, who turned 33 a couple of weeks ago, isn't some bit guy. He was supposed to be the missing link when he signed that nine-year, $60 million contract over the summer of 2011 under which he has already been paid $24 million -- and would be owed another $24 million if the Rangers use their final amnesty buyout on him this summer. Everyone thinks the lockout, through which Richards remained at home and engaged in the negotiations, is at the root of his problems. It remains to be seen whether the buyout decision is deferred until after the 2013-14 season that will begin with a training camp, but no one can say Tortorella didn't see something like this coming. "I worry about our older guys like Richie and [since-departed Mike Rupp] who aren't playing [in Europe]," Tortorella told The Post on Oct. 23, nearly three months before the season would start. "It's tough and they need to stay on top of it."

New York Post

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07:16 AM ET 05.17 | For Raffi Torres, it may have been a reputation that preceded him. His suspension for the rest of the Sharks' playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings was slightly stunning. Two games seemed the most lenient outcome and four games the most severe possibility, but this could be six. Yet when you consider Torres' track record of previous violations and suspensions, he is in no position to argue. Neither are the Sharks. They signed him knowing this could happen. And now, the stark truth is that Torres may not ever pull on a San Jose Sharks sweater again. If Los Angeles wins the series, Torres will play no more this season. And on July 1, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Mercury News

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07:17 AM ET 05.17 | Generally speaking, Randy Carlyle is about moving forward -- but Monday's season-ending collapse against the Bruins came with a special kind of sting. [Carlyle] won't be able to let go, just yet. And in the endless loop of the game replayed in his head, the coach admitted at Thursday's season-ending press conference that there were regrets. No. 1 was questioning who he had on the ice when Patrice Bergeron tied the game in the final minute and No. 2: If only he had implored those he did have out there to stay aggressive. ... "The situation we were in right after the game, the frustration -- you are hurt, you are stunned, all the words used to describe living that," Carlyle said. "It's almost like you go into a state of depression."

Toronto Sun

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07:15 AM ET 05.17 | The Rangers have moved on to their second-round series, but their first-round matchup rages on, thanks to John Tortorella and Adam Oates. When asked by Chad Dukes what he thinks about Torts openly trashing his team, he had a response ready to go. "Well, I think he's out of line," Oates said. "He should be worried about his own series. We didn't whine once during the series. I never complained. I don't know, did you guys ever hear me complain about officiating?" "Not you, no," Dukes answered. ... But his response to [LaVar Arrington's] next question really turns it up a notch. Lavar: Coach, I just want to know ... would you beat him up in a one-on-one situation? Oates: Yes. Easily.

CBS DC

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