NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Monday that Phoenix forward Raffi Torres' suspension for his illegal hit to the head of Hawks forward Marian Hossa has been reduced by four games.

Torres was originally suspended 25 games and served 13 of those during the Coyotes' playoff run. The remaining 12 games were to carry over into the 2012-13 regular season, but Torres appealed the length of suspension -- but not the suspension itself. Bettman serves as the arbitrator in cases such as this. The appeal was heard in May, and as a result of the commissioner's decision, Torres will now miss just the first eight games of next season.

"This type of on-ice conduct cannot and will not be tolerated in the NHL," Bettman said in a statement. "We have seen similar behavior before from Mr. Torres and, particularly given the league's heightened scrutiny on hits to the head, I believe that a very significant penalty is warranted in this case. We hope and expect that the severity of this incident, and the league's response to it, will help prevent any similar incident from occurring in the future."

Umm .... OK .... if the NHL isn't going to tolerate this type of on-ice conduct, then WHY REDUCE THE LENGTH OF THE SUSPENSION?

Bettman always has been and remains an idiot of the highest order. It's one thing to reduce the length of Torres' suspension. It's another thing to insult us with this mealy-mouthed bullcrap.