San Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres will be sidelined for a minimum of six weeks with what general manager Doug Wilson said Monday was an issues with the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
The immediate plan is to wait until the swelling goes down to determine the extent of the damage and whether Torres needs surgery or rest. If surgery is required, Torres will be out between three and four months.
"It's the one thing we don't do is jump to conclusions," Wilson said. "Let it calm down, we'll get it diagnosed properly and then make a decision from there."
Torres injured his right knee Friday in a second-period collision with Anaheim Ducks right wing Emerson Etem. He played 5:29 in the game, with two blocked shots, one hit and a shot on goal, in his first game since an illegal check to the head of Los Angeles Kings center Jarret Stoll in Game 1 of the 2013 Western Conference Semifinals. Torres was suspended for the remainder of the playoff series.
Following the game Friday, Torres was seen leaving the locker room with his right knee bandaged and walking with a slight limp.
"You have to put guys in position to play, and they go play," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "They have to play hard and play the way they are supposed (to). In 10 days from now, the real bullets start firing and you have to be prepared.
"No one wants to lose a player to injury in preseason, but there's really nothing you can do about it."
Torres was expected to provide a physical presence on either Logan Couture's line with Patrick Marleau or at right wing with Joe Pavelski and Tommy Wingels.
The Sharks re-signed Torres to a three-year, $6 million contract June 20. He was acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes for a third-round pick in the 2013 Draft on April 3. He had seven goals with 11 assists in 39 regular-season games with the Coyotes and Sharks last season.
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