Raffi Torres

Raphael Torres (born October 8, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger.

Torres played major junior with the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), beginning in 1998–99.

He scored at a point-per-game pace in his rookie season with 35 goals and 62 points, second in team-scoring to Jason Spezza.

Improving to a team-leading 43 goals and 91 points in his second junior season, he finished seventh in league scoring and was named to the OHL Second All-Star Team.

Qualifying for the playoffs, the Battalion were eliminated in the first round.

Torres added seven points in the six-game series.

He was drafted by the New York Islanders fifth overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Phoenix Coyotes and San Jose Sharks.

Torres was drafted out of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he played three seasons with the Brampton Battalion.

He was a two-time OHL Second Team All-Star during his junior career.

Going into the 2000 NHL Entry Draft as a top prospect, Torres was selected in the first round, fifth overall, by the New York Islanders.

The NHL Central Scouting Bureau described him as a player with some forechecking and offensive skills.

The Islanders obtained the fifth overall pick used to acquire Torres from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for goaltender Kevin Weekes and defensive prospect Kristian Kudroc.

At the time of the draft, Islanders general manager Mike Milbury told reporters Torres' chances of immediately joining the NHL was questionable.

Following his first NHL training camp in New York, Torres was returned to Brampton in late September.

Playing his third and final OHL season, Torres recorded 33 goals and 70 points over 55 games in 2000–01 and was named to the league's second all-star team again.

The Battalion advanced to the second round of the playoffs, where they were eliminated.

Torres had 11 points in eight post-season contests.

Beginning in 2001–02, he turned professional with the Islanders' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.

Internationally, he represented Canada at the 2001 World Junior Championships, winning a bronze medal.

Torres, a physical, forechecking forward with offensive capabilities, was suspended five times for illegal hits to opponents' heads.

After turning professional in 2001–02, Torres was assigned to the Islanders' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers following his second NHL training camp.

Over the course of his professional rookie campaign, Torres was called up on four occasions to the NHL.

He received his first call-up to New York on November 24, 2001, making his NHL debut against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Skating on the fourth line, he helped the Islanders to a 5–3 win.

He notched his first point during a separate call-up on January 4, 2002, assisting on a goal by Mark Parrish during a 4–2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It was his lone point with the Islanders over 15 NHL games that season.

Later that month, he was reassigned to Bridgeport for the remainder of the season.

He finished with 20 goals and 30 points over 55 games with the Sound Tigers.

Torres became an integral part of Bridgeport's 2002 playoff run to the Calder Cup Finals, where the club lost in five games to the Chicago Wolves.

He spent the better part of two seasons in the AHL before the Islanders traded him to the Oilers in 2003.

He played five seasons in Edmonton, becoming a full-time NHL player with the club.

He recorded career numbers as an Oiler in 2005–06, while also helping them to the Stanley Cup Finals that year.

In the 2008 off-season, he was dealt to the Blue Jackets, where he played the better part of two seasons.

After a brief stint with the Sabres in 2009–10, he signed with the Canucks and played one year for them where they reached the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals.

Torres then signed with the Phoenix Coyotes and then with the San Jose Sharks.

He received the fourth-longest suspension in the history of the NHL at the time for his hit to the head of Marian Hossa in Game 3 of the 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinals.

In October 2015, Torres received a 41-game (half-season) suspension for an illegal hit on Anaheim player Jakob Silfverberg.

This is the longest suspension ever given by the NHL for a hit on another player.

Having never played another NHL game due to this suspension and thereafter being unsigned in free agency, Torres retired in November 2016.