On Thursday, San Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres was suspended for the rest of the second round for his hit to the head on Jarret Stoll of the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1. Stoll did not return to the game and did not play in Game 2. This is the fourth time Torres has suffered the wrath of the disciplinary committee of the NHL over his 11-year career, with all of the suspensions coming in the last three seasons. As a member of the Phoenix Coyotes last season, he received a 25-game suspension (which was later dropped to 21 games) for a high hit on Chicagos Marian Hossa in the playoffs. Earlier that season, he was banned two games for charging against defenceman Nate Prosser of the Minnesota Wild. And during the 2010-11 campaign with the Vancouver Canucks, he was suspended four games for a hit to the head of Edmontons Jordan Eberle. Suspensions are meant to be a deterrent for illegal and dangerous play and as such, repeat offenders are punished more harshly to make sure the message is received. But what if the message is not getting through? If suspensions are not enough, how many should a player be allowed before a lifetime ban is issued? Torres is not the only NHL player with multiple infractions. Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins has also been suspended four times over his 14-year career for a total of 25 games. His biggest suspension came near the end of the 2010-11 regular season when he hit New York Rangers defenceman Ryan McDonagh in the head and was forced to sit for the remaining 10 games of the season as well as the first round of the playoffs for a total of 17 games. In 1927, Billy Coutu of the Montreal Canadiens was banned for life after punching a referee in the Stanley Cup final and, despite being reinstated years later, never played another NHL game. More recently, Jeff Kugel of the Windsor Spitfires was handed a lifetime ban in 1998 after he left the bench to join a line-brawl and continued to chase players around the ice as his opponents looked on in fear. The suspension was later reduced to allow Kugel to apply for reinstatement at seasons end. This season, Brett Cook of Nipissing University was banned for life from Ontario university hockey after punching a linesman. These were one-time incidents in leagues where the players didnt have representation. The NHL Players Association now plays an active role in the NHLs suspension process, including the ability to appeal harsher decisions through an independent arbitrator. Should there be a benchmark whereby if a player surpasses a certain amount of suspended games, a lifetime ban kicks in? Perhaps the NHL should institute a graduated process where suspensions are doubled with each additional infraction, up to a certain point where a lifetime ban is the only option left. How much is too much? How many suspensions or games lost due to suspension should a player be allowed before a lifetime ban is issued? As always, its Your! Call. New England Patriots Gear . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. Patriots Jerseys 2020 . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/ . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Stitched Patriots Jerseys . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. Patriots Jerseys China .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. All lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.New York Giants vs.?Los Angeles Rams?(in London)Line: Giants -3; Over/Under: 43.5The Giants have covered in each of the past seven meetings between these teams (six straight-up wins in a row).Eight of the past 10 NFL games played in London have gone over the total.Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles Line: Vikings -3; Over/Under: 40?The Vikings are a league-best 19-3 against the spread (ATS) since the start of last season, having covered in 10 straight games.Minnesota is 9-1 ATS on the road in the past two seasonsNew Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs Line: Chiefs -6; Over/Under: 50.5Of the 10 previous Chiefs games with an over/under in the 50s, none have gone over the total -- nine unders and one push.Dating back to the end of last season, the Saints have covered in four straight road games, including three upset wins during this span.Washington Redskins at Detroit Lions Line: Lions -1.5; Over/Under: 49.5The total has gone over in eight of the Lions past 10 home games dating back to last season.The Redskins are an underdog for the 19th time in 19 road games under Jay Gruden. After going 4-9 ATS (1-12 straight up) in the teams first 13 road games under Gruden, Washington has since won outright in five straight games as a road underdog.Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals Line: Bengals -10; Over/Under: 45The Bengals are 1-5 ATS this season, tied for the worst mark in the league. Last season, the Bengals went 13-3-1 ATS, the second-best mark in the league.The total has gone under in each of the past four meetings between these teams.Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins Line: Bills -3; Over/Under: 44Rex Ryans teams have covered in five straight games against the Dolphins -- two each with the Bills and Jets. Ryan is 5-0-1 ATS in his past six games played in Miami.The Dolphins havent covered in consecutive weeks since October of last season (Weeks 6-7). Miami is 4-12 ATS in its past 16 games since those back-to-back covers.Oakland Raiders at Jacksonville Jaguars Line: Jaguars -1; Over/Under 47.5Under Jack Del Rio, the Raiders have won five of seven games outright as a road underdog, covering in each game. Overall unnder Del Rio, Oakland is 9-2 ATS on the road and 2-9 ATS at home.dddddddddddd.Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans Line: Titans -3; Over/Under: 48Dating back to the end of the 2013 season, the Titans are 1-8 ATS in their past nine games as a favorite.The total has gone over in nine of Andrew Lucks past 11 starts.Baltimore Ravens at New York Jets Line: Jets -2; Over/Under: 40.5This is the first time the Jets are favored this season. Dating back to Week 8 last season, New York is 3-6 ATS in its past nine games as a favorite.Since the franchise moved to Baltimore, the Ravens are 8-1 ATS against the Jets.San Diego Chargers at Atlanta Falcons Line: Falcons -6.5; Over/Under: 54Five of the Falcons six games this season have gone over the total. Last season, the over hit in just two of Atlantas games, with 13 unders and one push.The Chargers have covered in six of their past seven games as an underdog, including ATS wins in back-to-back games entering this week.Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Francisco 49ers Line: Pick em; Over/Under: 46The 49ers have failed to cover in each of their past five games, the longest active ATS losing streak in the league.The total has gone under in 10 of the 49ers past 12 home games.New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers Line: Patriots -7; Over/Under 47The total has gone under in eight of the Steelers past 10 games.In the past 20 seasons, the Steelers are 6-0 ATS as a home underdog of more than a field goal, including four outright wins.Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals Line: Arizona -1.5; Over/Under: 43.5Since Bruce Arians became the Cardinals head coach in 2013, the road team has covered in five of the six meetings between these two clubs. This includes last season, when the road team won both meetings, each in upset fashion.The total has gone under in eight straight Cardinals home games.Houston Texans at Denver Broncos Line: Broncos -8.5; Over/Under: 40.5The Texans are 1-6 ATS in their past seven prime-time games on the road, including a 27-0 loss at New England as a one-point underdog in Week 3 this season. ' ' '
