SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Sharks left winger Raffi Torres apologized to Anaheim's Jakob Silfverberg for the illegal hit that led to his suspension.
In a statement released by the team Thursday, Torres said he was "disappointed I have put myself in a position to be suspended again." He won't appeal his 41-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Silfverberg during a preseason game.
"I'm extremely thankful that he wasn't seriously injured as a result of the play," Torres added.
It's the longest suspension in NHL history for a hit on another player and the fifth and most significant suspension for Torres in his career.
"I worked extremely hard over the last two years following reconstructive knee surgery to resume my NHL career," Torres said, "and this is the last thing I wanted to happen."
General manager Doug Wilson said in a separate statement that the Sharks support the NHL's discipline decision.
"While we do not believe there was any malicious intent, this type of hit is unacceptable and has no place in our game," Wilson said. "There is a difference between playing hard and crossing the line and there is no doubt, in this instance, Raffi crossed that line."
Torres' previous longest suspension had been 21 games for a high hit on Chicago's Marian Hossa in the first round of the 2012 playoffs when he played for Arizona.
Torres was suspended for the final six games of the playoffs in 2013 with San Jose for a hit to the head against Los Angeles' Jarret Stoll. Torres was also suspended for two games in January 2012 and April 2011 for hits.