Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres appealing length of his 25-game suspension

Chicago Blackhawks' Marian Hossa (81) of Slovakia, falls down after taking a hit from Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres (37) during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Chicago, Tuesday, April 17, 2012. Torres is appealing the length of his 25-game suspension for the hit. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Nam Y. Huh

TORONTO - Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres is appealing the length of his 25-game suspension.

Torres was penalized last month after landing a late hit to the head of Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa.

Torres and the NHL Players' Association will meet with league commissioner Gary Bettman about the length of the suspension, but not the ban itself.

The NHLPA says there's no date set for the meeting, although the collective bargaining agreement stipulates the commissioner "will endeavour to rule promptly on any such appeal."

Hossa was taken off the ice on a stretcher in Game 3 and didn't return to the first-round series Chicago eventually lost in six games.

Torres was handed the longest suspension since New York Islanders forward Chris Simon's 30-game suspension in December 2007.