Raffi Torres is up to his tricks again. In last year's playoff, he almost single handedly awakened the slumbering Chicago Black Hawks with his hit on All-Star defenseman Brent Seabrook. Tonight he caught Hawks forward Marian Hossa cutting across the middle in the neutral zone and left his feet to deliver a hard check.
Torres did not receive even a minor penalty for this hit, but will likely receive a call from NHL sheriff Brendan Shanahan.
Hossa has been taken to a Chicago area hospital.
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Interesting to keep track of the former members of the Maple Leafs who are currently toiling in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and seeing how they are doing for their respective teams.
Anton Stralman(Rangers) 1 G, 1 A in 3 GP. Stralman is with his fourth NHL team since being traded in July 2009 and is seeing significant ice and power play time with the top seeded Rangers.
John Mitchell(Rangers) 0 Pts in 3 GP. Fourth liner during the regular season and in the playoffs.
Kris Versteeg(Panthers) 1 G, 1 A in 2 GP. Now with his fifth NHL team, Versteeg has found a home in Florida with ex-Hawks GM Dale Tallon and scored 23 goals during the regular season.
Steve Sullivan(Penguins) 2 A in 3 GP. Now a grizzled veteran at 37, Sullivan has seen power play time and occasionally gets in the top six mix, but won’t be for much longer, as the Pens are on the verge of elimination.
Pavel Kubina(Flyers) 1 A in 2 GP. Former $5 Million a year defenseman now filling a depth rent-a-player role for Philly.
Alexei Ponikarovsky(Devils) 1 A in 2 GP. After spending nine years in Toronto, Poni is now with his fourth team in three seasons, being acquired by New Jersey for the stretch drive from the Hurricanes.
Carlo Colaiacovo(Blues) 3 A in 3 GP. The 29 year old 2001 Leafs first rounder has not played more than 70 games in four seasons with St. Louis, but has been effective. More than we can say for Lee Stempniak.
Alex Steen(Blues) 1 G 2 A in 3 GP. The 28 year old 2002 top pick of the Leafs further illustrates that Cliff Fletcher final move as interim GM was a horrendous mistake. Steen missed nearly half the season with concussion issues, but still scored 15 goals, better than the likes of Connolly, Kulemin, Lombardi and Crabb.
Hal Gill(Predators) Injured. If Nashville makes a deep run, Gill’s size and defensive ability will be a valuable commodity.
Ian White(Red Wings) 1 G in 3 GP. The only player traded in the Phaneuf deal that most Leafs fans regret losing, White moved from Calgary, Carolina to San Jose in ’10-11, but a good playoff for the Sharks earned him a free agent deal in Detroit, where is has often played with future HOFer Nicklas Lidstrom.
Viktor Stalberg(Hawks) 1 A in 2 GP. Traded in the deal to get Versteeg, the 26 year old Swede increased his goal totals in his second year in Chicago from 12 to 22 goals and often plays a top six role.
Jamal Mayers(Hawks) 0 Pts in 2 GP. A perennial veteran fourth liner.
Dominic Moore(Sharks) 0 Pts in 3 GP. Acquired from Tampa as a veteran rent-a-player, the only notable aspect of Moore’s post-season in San Jose is the busted nose he received in a brawl near the end of Game 2.
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