Hearing for Torres on Stoll hit (Thurs 9am PT, NYC; w/DW); out for rest of WCSF

[rangerssharks414]

Isn't the in person at his choice?

I think so.

 

[LeeIFBB]

He has to be thinking about his ability to make a living next season and beyond. I would be. An in person hearing might help with that.

 

[WTFetus]

Taking Torres out means we do what what, have Kennedy in?

Marleau - Couture - Kennedy
Galliardi - Thornton - Burns
Desjardin - Pavelski - Wingels
Sheppard - Gomez - Kearns

Mitigate the damages by overloading the top lines and limiting the 4th line's minutes.

Pavelski - Thornton - Burns
Marleau - Couture - Galiardi
Sheppard - Gomez - Wingels
Kennedy/Hannan/Tennyson - Desjardins - Kearns

 

[SpaceCoastShark]

Whether or not he's suspended, this is exactly why I was against the Torres acquisition.
Todd and the boys better start making their golf reservations.

 

[Alwalys]

this is stupid.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Whether or not he's suspended, this is exactly why I was against the Torres acquisition.
Todd and the boys better start making their golf reservations.

Hes been overwhelmingly positive..this is a witch hunt.

 

[Led Zappa]

Isn't the in person at his choice?

He doesn't have to go, but it is highly advisable. The NHL doesn't always ask for an in person interview. It's usually asked for only when the player will get more than 5 games.

 

[WTFetus]

He doesn't have to go, but it is highly advisable. The NHL doesn't always ask for an in person interview. It's usually asked for only when the player will get more than 5 games.

Wasn't there a tweet saying part of the reason it's in-person is because Blake is in LA right now?

 

[hockeyball]

Hes been overwhelmingly positive..this is a witch hunt.

His point is his reputation is going to make things very difficult, and it is.

 

[hockeyball]

Honestly if he's suspended I don't see any other choice other than calling up Nieto if it can be done. No one else can even hope to provide enough offense to be of any use. I don't think it will work, and it's a bad thing for Nieto to throw him into an NHL playoff game like that, but the Sharks simply have no one else.

 

[slocal]

Are the Sharks deep or derp? This blows.

 

[skilks]

Mitigate the damages by overloading the top lines and limiting the 4th line's minutes.

Pavelski - Thornton - Burns
Marleau - Couture - Galiardi
Sheppard - Gomez - Wingels
Kennedy/Hannan/Tennyson - Desjardins - Kearns

Suddenly the Sharks are back as a two line team and can't make a deep run.

 

[Led Zappa]

Wasn't there a tweet saying part of the reason it's in-person is because Blake is in LA right now?

All I've seen is LadyStanley tweeting that Blake may be in LA. I don't see it being a factor in whether a phone or in person interview was requested. But maybe I missed it.

 

[CrazedZooChimp]

Honestly if he's suspended I don't see any other choice other than calling up Nieto if it can be done. No one else can even hope to provide enough offense to be of any use. I don't think it will work, and it's a bad thing for Nieto to throw him into an NHL playoff game like that, but the Sharks simply have no one else.

Nieto doesn't have a contract to play this year I believe, I'm not sure how it would work changing the dates on his contract to start this season.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Honestly if he's suspended I don't see any other choice other than calling up Nieto if it can be done. No one else can even hope to provide enough offense to be of any use. I don't think it will work, and it's a bad thing for Nieto to throw him into an NHL playoff game like that, but the Sharks simply have no one else.

Can't play in the NHL right now. The Sharks are ****ed. R

 

[Grave]

NHL is going to stand for NO hit league if **** like this keeps up, how about Stoll keeps his head up and doesn't make a bad play.

 

[kwhyte]

I think Fraser's take is right on - this is just like Gryba's hit. Most people see it as clean, but the league's view is that if you go for a hard open ice hit then it is your responsibility to avoid head contact by making sure you can line it up perfectly. That does take some of the hitting out of the game, but given the severity of the concussion problem, I can understand it.

Gryba had no history, unlike Torres, and got 2. I'm guessing Torres get considerably more than 2. I suspect they'll respect that he has cleaned up his game after his massive suspension, but also want to send a firm message that he needs to stay away from borderline plays. My gut says 6 games - enough to ensure he isn't seen again in the LA series, but short enough that he will be back in the next series should the Sharks advance.

However, I'm confused on one point. With the new CBA, if it is 6 or more he can appeal. Given that many people see it as a clean hit, I'm guessing he would. What happens then? Can they get the appeal done in a day? If not, does he get to keep playing while the appeal happens? Maybe he'd just stay suspended for the 5 they can give him without appeal and the hearing would only be about the ones after that?

I suspect the NHL would hate to have a legal battle in the middle of the playoffs, especially if they think they could lose big ( like the appeal ruling there should not have been any suspension but the Sharks are already eliminated by then). That might mean they just keep it to 5 to avoid the issue.

 

[Led Zappa]

Great, now we may not know until tomorrow.

@helenenothelen

Quote:
Sharks apparently want in-person hearing for Torres. So NHL might not announce anything today

 

[slocal]

Great, now we may not know until tomorrow.

@helenenothelen

Quote:
Sharks apparently want in-person hearing for Torres. So NHL might not announce anything today

Meaning he's not in the lineup either way on Thursday. Lovely.

 

[Fel 96]

Ugh, I don't like the sound of it especially considering his long history that we all know.

Good luck Raffi.

 

[murdock1116]

If Torres gets more than 1 game DW should go ape on Shanny. (I don't think he should even get 1 game though).

But if we don't have Torres, I think the best person to call up would be Freddie Hamilton. Or maybe ice 7..hell, 8 defensiveman!

Galiardi - Thornton - Burns
Marleau - Couture - Gomez
Sheppard - Pavleski - Wingels
Desjardins - Kearns - Hamilton/Demers/Tennyson

Just limit the 4th line minutes. And by limit, just don't play them

 

[Levie]

So is this the third series that Torres has caused us to lose?

 

[Mafoofoo]

**** there goes any semblance of forward depth we may have had.

 

[AnderFunk]

I am the opposite of a Torres fan, and even after he has joined the Sharks I am still one of his biggest detractors. I was outraged that he didn't get a longer suspension than he did last season and that he even got it appealed down to fewer games. If he is allowed to continue to play, I think it is only a matter of time before he commits a serious offence again.

But this particular hit, I just can't see why he would get suspended for it. If principle point of contact was the head I'd say lock him up (for good), but for the life of me I just don't see it.

EDIT: Is it possible that they just want an in-person hearing to tell him "look, you were really close to a bad play here so you gotta be more careful because this is your last chance"?

 

[ChompChomp]

Honestly if he's suspended I don't see any other choice other than calling up Nieto if it can be done. No one else can even hope to provide enough offense to be of any use. I don't think it will work, and it's a bad thing for Nieto to throw him into an NHL playoff game like that, but the Sharks simply have no one else.

I know Nieto has a contract beginning next season, but can he be signed to play now? I know he could have been signed during the season to play then (but nobody wanted to burn an ELC year), never heard if it can happen in the playoffs.