Carolina Hurricanes Sign Raffi Torres To Tryout

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News broke recently that Raffi Torres has signed a PTO contract with the Carolina Hurricanes and will attend training camp next month. Torres is an controversial character who's earned nearly twice as many penalty minutes as he has points since joining the NHL way back in the 2001/02 season (260 points, 497 PIM).

Drafted by the New York Islanders in 2000, Torres has also plied his trade for the Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Phoenix Coyotes and most recently the San Jose Sharks. As well as a raft of AHL teams.

Currently an Unrestricted Free Agent; Torres hasn't played a game in the NHL since October 2015 when he was suspended for 41 games after an illegal check on Jakob Silferberg:


Not cool. Who can forget Torres' hit on Marian Hossa that earned him a 25 game suspension? Later reduced to 21 on appeal.

So the fella isn't going to win the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy any time soon, but he's still a skater who needs a team. Should Carolina take a chance on him? Assuming he makes it past training camp. Since winning the cup in 2006 the Hurricanes have only qualified for the playoffs once, so any help is good. Right?

There are two main questions posed by this arrangement: firstly does Carolina need Torres? And secondly can Torres add something to the team? We know the Canes are having issues putting the biscuit in the basket. Last season the team were 27th overall in the Goals For category, scoring just 196 goals. Jeff Skinner and Victor Rask were the only two Hurricanes to score more than 20 goals. Torres hasn't had a 20 goal season since 2005/06.

Assuming Torres can go a season without being suspended again, assuming his injuries don't flare up, assuming there's nobody better available and he hasn't ended anyone's career in training camp, then maybe give him a go. Don't expect the fans to like it though:
Former Hurricane Mike Commodore has an interesting view on this:

I asked my friend and colleague Alex Watson for his thoughts on Torres' potential return to the NHL: "Alert the hospitals" he told me. Succinctly put Alex. Whatever happens with this story, one thing is for sure, Raffi Torres has provided something to get hockey fans talking about while we wait for the season to start.


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