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Sharks retain Torres for three more years |
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San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson has signed the hard-nosed winger Raffi Torres to a three year deal worth a reported 6 million.
He was once on the top of list for most hated players by Sharks fans, but after he was traded by Phoenix at the deadline he became a Shark and will be for the foreseeable future. Torres was part of the Oilers team that beat the Sharks in 2006 and he was also the man who separated Joe Thornton’s shoulder in the Conference finals in 2011 limiting the captain’s ability when he was a part of the Vancouver Canucks organization.
However you slice it Torres is and always has been a player that people hate to play against but love having him as a teammate. The 6’0, 210 pound Toronto native is a ferocious hitter who commands respect when he is on the ice. He has great wheels and shows tenacity in front of the net, which is where most of the goals are scored from these days. He changes the way opponents play because they are worried about his hitting ability and he creates more space for his teammates.
Raffi adds depth to the third line on a team that desperately needs it and it could be argued that if he weren’t hosed with a suspension during the second round of the playoffs the outcome may have been different. Torres was suspended in game one of the second round for the remainder of the series for what the refs on the ice and most hockey experts called a clean hockey hit.
It is hard to believe that one player can make such a difference, but the dynamic of the Sharks changed when he was out of the line-up. With Torres available San Jose was and will be able to put out three lines that are a threat to score.
He and Joe Pavelski played well together and can only get better with more time on the ice. He fits into the Sharks theory of building a team based on speed and size and in the right situation, which he should get in San Jose we are most likely to see his number inflate from past years.
He has had some injury issues in the past, however in the last three seasons he has played over 90% of his games barring suspensions. Torre’s history lends itself to question, but he showed that he is willing to change the way he plays by regressing his penalty minutes to 17 in this shortened season.
Torres also knows the playoffs well and has plenty of experience. He has played in 61 games recording 9g, 16a and is a plus -3. He has been to the Cup finals and in both situations the team he was with lost in seven games.
Although Raffi is a tough hombre he is not the player that a team wants to be dropping the gloves the way Ryane Clowe did for the Sharks. He is too good to be spending that much time in the sin bin. This of course means that there is still a void to be filled in San Jose for somebody who can keep the opposition in line. The ideal player for this role will also be able to play some quality fourth line minutes.
When Torres was suspended this post-season I was very impressed by the statement put out by GM Doug Wilson who stuck up for what he believed in and backed up his player. After Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks only received one game for deliberately sticking Jeff Carter in the face for 21 stitches it is obvious that Torres got bent over by the NHL. Keep in mind Keith also has a history, particularly in the playoffs.
The point is that players around the NHL like playing for teams and GM’s who will go to bat for them and although Wilson received a $100,000 fine for speaking his mind this can only help the organization in the long run especially when it comes to attracting free-agents along with extending contracts.
So the Raffi Torres era continues in San Jose which makes the third round pick they sent to Phoenix for him that much better. So heads up out there because number 13 for San Jose will no doubt mean bad luck for anybody who gets in his way.
There is nothing official from the San Jose yet, but according to capgeek.com the Sharks have extended Logan Couture’s contract until the end of the 2018/19 season. It is reported that he will make 6 million per year. More on that when it becomes official.
Keep your sticks on the ice,
Cam Gore
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
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