I know i'm not with the majority on this one. But I don't think Raffi Torres is an evil player.
This is in response to the many biting and vilifying articles on the guy after another of his jarring blows to a player's noggin - this time it was Jakob Silfverberg of Anaheim. And as with Torres's other crushing blows, I enjoy Silfverberg's play. I hope he recovers fully. Concussions are not anything I wish on anyone.
Raffi Torres plays hard and he skates hard. He is old now and not really worth as much to a team. But he offers an element - Johnny Hustle-type. Mix it up and make the opposition think about him-type.
His main problem is this era. We are in the ultra-protective era. Raffi Torres is a Pre-2004 era player. He is a warrior along the lines of Scott Stevens but not as dangerous or deadly. I'm not big on head-hunting and as a Lindros fan, I was actually quite disgusted by the viciousness Stevens laid on him. Lindros was a beast - but in that era you were not allowed to skate with your head down unless you were willing to get your pumpkin rung. Scott Stevens was a pro pumpkin-ringer.
Raffi Torres has that timing as well. And it got him to the NHL. And it got him on an upstart Edmonton team lead by a matured hulking Stevens-like d-man in Chris Pronger. And that tough and rough and bruising team came within a game of hoisting Sir Stanley. It was a great and memorable Stanley Cup run by both the Canes and the Oilers. And really in truth, in that final, there was a moment that Torres had a game winner on his stick only to be out-witted by Cane's goalie Cam Ward. It was ok, because Torres wasn't on the team because he netted goals easily. He was there because he was a worker and hustler and never gave up and never, never, never shied away from a hit.
Honestly, much respect to him. I am just sorry he is 15 years too young.
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