Raffi Torres Speaks About Why He Left Vancouver Plus A Raffi Tribute
by Sean Zandberg on Jul 3, 2011 1:40 AM PDT
in Free Agency
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PrintOn the eve of July 1 I was nervous about the re-signing status' of Chris Higgins and Raffi Torres. It was looking like neither would re-sign here. I was saying to people that if I had a choice I would prefer Raffi re-signing over Higgins if I had to choose one of the two. You know, don't get me wrong, I am now a huge Higgins fan and I'm glad he signed here. But I still would have rather kept Torres. It was his work ethic. It was his brutally physical game that he brought almost every night. No doubt he put the fear of god into players every time he was out there. That, plus chipping in timely goals with limited ice time made him one of my faves.
So when negotiations fell through with the Canucks and he signed a 2-year deal worth $1.75 million per season with the Coyotes I wondered: why the hell didn't Mike Gillis sign him to that kind of deal. Well, Raffi spoke to the Province on Saturday and let the cat out of the bag.
"I've loved watching Shane Doan play and there's some good young talent there," Torres said. "And I'll have a chance to have a bigger role there than I had in Vancouver. But most of all, I get a little security. I needed to have that security because I was making a decision for three, and not one. I had to think about my family."
"The Canucks wanted me back but for a year and at the same money. I didn't want to be in a position where I was on a tryout contract again. I have to move beyond that."
Ok, note that last sentence. The same
money? Torres made $1 million with the Canucks. Did he deserve to be on a tryout contract again? Hell no. Not after the season/playoffs that he had. So Gillis signs a health risk in Marco Sturm instead. Gillis feels that Sturm is more versatile in that he can use him in the top or bottom 6, which is true. And Torres couldn't bring that? Did he even get a fair shake to prove himself in the top 6? Hey, I'm not the coach/GM so I'm just venting here. Sure, we KNOW that Sturm can play anywhere on the roster. But Gillis signed him to a $2.25 million deal! Torres may have settled for $1.5, and I still think he could have brought more to the table if given a chance.
Oh well, it's over now. All we are left with are some solid memories of a beast named Torres. Notice I said "beast" and not "douche", which most other people who aren't Canucks fans refer to him as. Haters gonna hate. Not me.
Here's a little video compilation of a Canucks that left it all on the ice for his team:
A controversial pit bull no doubt about it. This crunch on Brent Seabrook was a head shot and I think woke up the Hawks in Round 1:
When Torres hit Seabrook it was his first game back after doing this:
OK, all the controversial ones are out of the way so let's move on. You know, he loves to demolish guys but I don't think he meant to hand out head shots. He just plays that old school hitting style and sometimes accidentally makes contact with the opposing players' head. Anyway, many will disagree and I don't care. Here's a beauty hit on Tomas Kaberle:
Raffi Torres scores with 19 seconds left in Game 1 vs the Bruins:
Torres fights Brendan Morrow:
Torres scores a hatty against his former team:
It didn't matter how big the guy was. Raffi would go after him. Like Douglas Murray of the Sharks in the playoffs. But this was a charging call though:
I don't think Jumbo Joe Thornton was the same after this hit:
Canucks score 2 in 39 seconds against the Sharks in the playoffs with Raffi scoring the 2nd one:
Smooth, Raffi. Smooth:
Torres walks the fine line with his hits and he may get into serious trouble next season if he catches another player in the head. Thems the rules now. But he remains unapologetic for it. He plays on the edge. He's an old-school kind of guy and I admire him for that. Hate on me all you want for saying that. But opposing players had better keep their heads up when Raffi is on the ice, and that's exactly what makes Torres successful/effective.
Best of luck in Phoenix, Raffi. Thanks for playing with heart as a Vancouver Canuck.
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Good luck in the desert Raffi
I will miss your thundering hits, but I think MG is attempting to build a more consistent lineup (in terms of putting up the points)
I admit though, I felt that Torres’ defensive play and passing in general leaves much to be desired.. He made a lot of no-look backhand saucers in the D zone to nobody in particular, ultimately causing turnovers. I recall him having one of the worst GA/60 stats on the team, only after the likes of Glass and Desbiens
ya i was hoping a return
The guy brought energy and like mentioned in the article never got a decent shot to play in the top six, I’m thinking this is a regret MG will be feeling if he can’t add some more sandpaper to this lineup
You need to be more specific, all those names can mean so many things.
They were only willing to pay him
1M again??
The hell
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
I was hoping he'd come back...
but he deserved a longer contract and a raise and if they weren’t willing to offer that, I don’t blame him for moving.
I’m going to miss his hits.
Losing Raffi
I think was a mistake. Having a guy with bad knees instead???
Obviously Gillis isn’t done. I hope he can find some more grit.
I too will definitely miss Raffi.
Sean, good post
Pretty well captures my feelings about Raffi. His efforts, goals and mostly hits were very much appreciated.
by Presidents Trophy on Jul 3, 2011 8:40 AM PDT reply actions
a ThORn in ouR sidES
Is what he’s going to be next season. He was always a player that I dreaded the Canucks playing against, but that I still had a grudging admiration for. I guess I’ll be going back to that sentiment next season, too bad.
I'm sorry but...
When I see a player saying this:
But most of all, I get a little security. I needed to have that security because I was making a decision for three, and not one. I had to think about my family.
I don’t have a lot of sympathy for him. He’s made something around $5-10 million over his career? If he was even slightly smart about investing his money he could retire right now and be in the top 1-5% of income of Canadians.
Sure NHL players careers are short, but when the median salary is north of $1 million per year, most NHL players will make more in their short careers than the vast majority of ‘other folks’ will in their lifetime.
Speaking for myself
If I could almost double my salary by moving to and working in Phoenix, I would do it too. I like my current employer, but I would be a fool to turn down a 75% wage increase.
That's fine...
…just don’t try to justify it as security for your family.
Money is all relative
It’s fair of him to want security for his family. His cost of living is probably much higher than yours and a million is not what it used to be. Athletes have certainly burned through more than raffi has made in his career. Also we have no idea what he’s done with his money. Buy your mom a home, yourself a nice home to raise your kids and see how quickly you can spend 10 mill. Then consider the fact that this money has to last him and his wife the rest of his life as well as put his kids through college and hopefully help them start their lives. I think it’s not a stretch for him to be concerned about his future.
by Canuckelhead on Jul 3, 2011 10:52 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I get the impression he’s not referring to the money, but to the length of the contract…..2 years would definitely give you more peace of mind than 1 year. It would mean your kids could settle into school for awhile, rather than having to worry about possibly uprooting them again in 1 year.
I wasn’t as sold on Raffi as some of you, but I liked him, and I respect his reasons to move on.
"He could have played with a cigarette in his mouth" -Bieksa, on the rookie Tanev playing in the SCF
This
He has job security. He knows where he will be for the next two seasons and feels like he’s a part of the team’s plans. And even if he was referring only to money, I really don’t see a problem with anyone saying they’d like to earn as much money as possible for themselves and their family.
It is very much "security"!
Bear in mind a lot of professional athletes have no other job or education and a very short career span – this is their shot to provide stability for their future and a future for their children. They are very likely going to be the richest person in their family, and that’s over a couple of generations. Hell, it’s security for themselves, too: one million dollars isn’t enough for me to retire on (not if I want enough property to farm on, at least) and I live a pretty modest life.
That all being said, I hate the fact that he stayed in the West. What, Florida wasn’t good enough for you, Raffi? Sheesh!
Flying that Nerd Flag high!
This is very true of Raffi
He comes from an immigrant, working class family, whom I am sure he now largely supports. I have heard him joke about not finishing high school. Don’t know if that is true, but he was drafted out of junior, so it might be.
Raffi is doing the right thing by his family.
Daniel Sedin on Mike Milbury: "He made a bad comment about us, calling us women. I don’t know how he looks at women. I would be pretty mad if I was a woman."
by Tink for Nucks on Jul 3, 2011 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions
totally disagree
i see this argument so often it makes me cringe. thankfully there are actually NM members who point out the fallacies in this argument.
I'll say one good thing about Raffi beimg gone
He’s in the pacciffic division, playing against the sharks and kings 6 times a yezr!
by Wisp on Jul 3, 2011 11:09 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
So, does "same money" mean...
…“same as last season” or “same as Phoenix was offering”? Because if it’s the second, then that’s less of a slap in the face. But I also understand having a guaranteed income for twice the duration.
Flying that Nerd Flag high!
THere is no way that
he was offered 1 million by the Canucks.
Last year his career was in limbo, and the Canucks took a chance on him. But this year he proved to everybone that he can stil contribute a lot. It would make no sense to offer him the same money after what he has done on the playoffs.
So, the “same money” must mean “the same money that Phoenix offered”, but only for one year.
Los Angeles, CA
I’m thinking a 1 year, $1 million tryout contract
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by Sean Zandberg on Jul 3, 2011 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
I read it the same way as you. Plus I thought the talk a couple of days ago was that the sticking point was years not money?
that was an early report, yeah. I never know what to believe when it comes to agents yapping and newspaper reports
Nucks Misconduct Contributor
We chew and spit you out. We laugh, you scream and shout. All flee, with fear you run. You’ll know where we come from:
Damage incorporated.........GO!
by Sean Zandberg on Jul 3, 2011 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I subscribe to the theory
that while Raffi is still a good fit for the team, he’s going to be a target by the refs as the NHL “tries” to crack down on their confusing rules. So while his tough play and some clutch goals were great for the Canucks, in the end he’s probably going to be a liability if he were to be suspended or otherwise been a ref magnet.
Oh well, thanks for the good year Raffi!
I'm going to miss you Raffi "Howler Monkey" Torres!
Good luck in Phoenix buddy, or whatever town they end up in for the second year of your contract.
GOODBYE LUONGO!
Yeah I'd do the same
gotta stack your paper for your fam-fam.
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by Chuckles Canuckles on Jul 3, 2011 10:01 PM PDT reply actions
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