San Jose's Raffi Torres banned for half of NHL regular season

Torres was banned for 41 games without pay for interference and an illegal check to the head of Anaheim Ducks player Jakob Silfverberg in a pre-season match on Saturday.

Silfverberg left the game for precautionary reasons but did not suffer an injury and should be in the Ducks line-up when they open the regular season on Saturday with a game against the Sharks.

Based on his average annual salary, Torres will forfeit $440,860 (£290,000), with that money going to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Torres is not considered a repeat offender under the NHL's collective bargaining agreement but has been warned, fined or suspended on nine previous occasions, the majority of which have involved a hit to an opponent's head.

He has played just 12 regular or post-season games the past two years because of serious knee injuries.