Torres to appeal 25-game ban for Hossa hit

A date for the appeal, to be heard by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, has not been set but the players' union said it will be looking to have the ban reduced, not overturned.

Torres, who has a reputation as a notorious headhunter and has a long history of illegal hits, launched himself into an unsuspecting Hossa with a shoulder-to-head hit more than half a second after the Chicago player passed the puck in Game Three of the Western Conference quarter-final on April 21.

Hossa lay on the ice of Chicago's United Center for several minutes before being taken away on a stretcher. He was released from hospital a few hours later.

The suspension is the most severe punishment handed down by the NHL since New York Islanders forward Chris Simon was given a 30-game ban for stomping on the leg of Jarkko Ruutu in December of 2007.