Raffi Torres has received the NHL's longest ever suspension for a hit on another player.

The NHL banned Torres for the first 41 games of the season for an illegal check to the head of Jakob Silfverberg.

Torres' latest infraction resulted from a hit in a preseason game Saturday. He was ejected with 7:15 left in the first period. Silfverberg did not return to the game either.

Torres waived the right to an in-person hearing and has until Wednesday to decide if he wants to appeal the suspension.

The previous longest suspension for player-on-player violence was a 30-game suspension to Chris Simon of the New York Islanders in December 2007 for stomping on the skate of Pittsburgh forward Jarkko Ruutu.

Torres will forfeit $440,860 in salary for the suspension. The money goes to the players' emergency assistance fund.