Torres got 25 games for the Hossa hit. I say good job on Shanahan's part. They needed to get the message across that they weren't going to take the dirty hits that have been going on. Yes, hockey is an extremely physical game, but there is a line where to stop and players have been crossing it lately. It's too bad that it took a major injury for something this big to happen.

You both make good points.

If Weber had been suspended - for multiple games - maybe everyone would have been on notice.

Worst blown call of the year.

WAY TOO HARSH

7-10 TOPS

i do think that it was harsh, but like with the Saints bounty scandal, the league had to set an example to stop such things from happening and therefore needed.

I will see the hit.  I expect nothing less than a McSorely stick swing.

5 previous suspensions?  I agree with Cresty, if they are all playoff games.  I would have suspended him indefinitely, and see how for the yotes get. 

Oh well, Raffi can use the time off to consider legally changing his name to Duncan Keith or Shea Weber?

Torres shouldve received a medal  for injuring 2 teflon Hawks.. maybe the board of governors should revisit the head shot rule and allow only the Hawks to hit to the head..clearly a injustice to suspend any Hawk player for a head shot

James Neal gets one game.
Raffi Torres gets 25.


Absolutely pathetic.  I dont know what's worse, the discipline department or the referees.  The same hit sent home James Neal for one game, less than a week earlier.  I'd be ******* irate if I were Torres. 

There is definitely a history of inconsistent punishments in the NHL...Why should the how bad the guy who got hurt be a factor?  I still don't get that one!  Guys have thrown an elbow to the head and just because it either missed OR barely hit OR the target got lucky and wasn't badly hurt..... guilty party gets practically zip. You want to get rid of it...punish ALL attempts no matter what the result is.

Now regarding Torres...this is a 6th time in his career he's been brought in for a questionable hits (leaving his feet/targeting the head etc). Heck, 3rd time this season alone..  Now the NHL has shown that repeat offenders get longer suspensions. At least they have been consistent there.  Geez after 4 times you'd think they had thrown the book at him...oh wait the target wasn't injured that badly...Why does it take that many times for the NHL to realize the guy is a problem???

Personally I like Torres getting 25 games...it's the lighter punishments (like Neal's or Keith's etc) I don't get. If they were serious about keeping their players safe, you think they's show it....   Well, I guess it's the same old NHL a bunch of .... wishy washy, fencing sitting....

The only people calling for "the player who caused the injury should be forced to sit out as long as the injured player" situation are trolls.  Diarrhea brained nutjobs.

It is a bit inconsistent the 25 games Torres received.  Many worse hits were given far less this season.

That being said I hope this is setting a new standard and the league keeps discipline to this level.  I am all for long suspensions for these kind of dangerous hits - any dangerous hit whether to the head or the knees.

I completely agree with Paul that any dangerous hit has to be taken out of the game.  Knee on Knee hits are just as dangerous as an elbow to the head.  The discipline needs to be set.

1st offence: Minimum of ten games.
2nd offence: Minimum of 20 games. 
3rd offence: Minimum of 41 games (half season)
4th offence: Minimum of 82 games. (full season)

If you set standards for the minimum number of games players will be suspended, then you may start to clean up the game.  Repeat offenders will be forced out of  the game.  By setting minimum suspention numbers you give the league the ability to increase the suspention depending on the type of hit.

example: Hitting a player from behind who is in a vulnerable position is the most serious type of hit, these hits should be considered the most serious.