Sharks fined $100,000: GM Doug Wilson's Comments On The Raffi Torres Suspension Leads To Huge San Jose Fine

Following Raffi Torres' suspension, San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson had some choice words for the NHL.

Unfortunately for Wilson and the Sharks, that quip cost the organization $100,000 as of Saturday. The NHL said in a statement that $25,000 of the fine was due to a violation of a rule that states that teams are not allowed to make formal comments to the media regarding a Department of Player Safety ruling until 48 hours afterward.

The remaining $75,000 was due to the inappropriate nature of the comments, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Torres, a forward for the Sharks, was suspended for the remainder of Round 2 in the Western Conference semifinals against state rivals the Los Angeles Kings for an illegal check to the head he delivered on Kings forward Jarret Stoll in Game 1.

Wilson said Friday that he strongly disagreed with the NHL's ruling and severity of the penalty against Torres, ABC News reported. At a press conference, he disputed the video issued by Brendan Shanahan, senior vice president of player safety for the NHL.

"It is abundantly clear that this was a clean hockey hit," Wilson said in a statement. "As noted by the NHL, Raffi's initial point of contact was a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on an opponent who was playing the puck. He did not leave his feet or elevate, he kept his shoulder tucked and elbow down at his side, and he was gliding - not skating or charging."

According to the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement, Torres is considered a repeat offender. He had been fined and suspended three times each prior to this hit. He was found to be in violation for Rule 48.1, which does not permit checks to the head.

Wilson said the NHL unfairly used this against his player, who he believes meant no harm to Stoll.

"Comparing the facts of this incident against the actual wording of Rule 48.1, it appears that the NHL has not only made an inappropriate application of this rule but is trying to make an example out of a player who is being judged on past events, one who has changed his game dramatically this season and taken only six minor penalties in 39 games," Wilson said.

Stoll, who was hit at 19:02 in the second period and did not return for the third, is reportedly suffering from a concussion and is not expected to return to the playoffs any time soon.

Torres was acquired from Phoenix just before this season's trade deadline and proved to be a deciding factor in many games, as well as a big player behind the Sharks' sweep of the Vancouver Canucks in Round 1.

The Kings currently lead the series, 2-1. The Sharks and Kings will meet again Tuesday at the HP Pavillion in San Jose at 10 p.m. EST.