Rangers winger Matt Rempe has been assessed an eight-game suspension by the league’s Department of Player Safety for a boarding/elbowing infraction against Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, the league announced.
Rempe laid the hit on Heiskanen (explained further here) in the third period of Friday’s 3-1 win. He was ejected on the play, the fourth time he’s faced such discipline in his 22-game NHL career. He was also assessed a two-minute minor for elbowing on the play, as well as an additional roughing minor in the aftermath. Unsurprisingly, after being suspended four games for a similar infraction against Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in March last season, he was offered an in-person hearing, which gives DoPS the option of suspending him for six games or more.
Rempe already missed today’s loss to the Hurricanes, so he has seven more games to serve. He’s considered a repeat offender under Player Safety guidelines and will forfeit $80K in salary during his suspension, relays Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic. He’ll still count against the active roster and the team’s salary cap during that time, reducing the Rangers’ flexibility for an extended period. He can appeal the suspension to league commissioner Gary Bettman, so it’s possible he might be back earlier than Jan. 9 against the Devils if he’s successful.
The incident was one of many controversial ones in Rempe’s young career. The 22-year-old, who the Blueshirts selected 165th overall in the 2020 draft, has accumulated 95 PIMs in just 22 appearances over the last two seasons while averaging 5:46 of ice time per game. The wealth of time spent in the dressing room or in the penalty box has limited his effectiveness offensively and put the Rangers in more shorthanded situations than they’d like, although it’s also worth noting he’s drawn the most penalties per 60 minutes of any Ranger over the last two seasons.
The 6’8″, 240-lb winger has spent most of this season on assignment to AHL Hartford, where he has three goals, two assists and 22 PIMs in 18 showings with a -3 rating. His game against Dallas was only his fifth NHL appearance of the season.
In the meantime, Rempe’s absence will secure more ice time for developing depth options like Brett Berard and Adam Edstrom. They still have veteran Jonny Brodzinski on hand as an extra forward to enter the lineup if necessary as well.
Thats a career too short.
This suspension won’t change anything when Rempe returns. He’ll continue to target other player’s heads. The kid is an endangerment to the safety of other players & it won’t surprise me if he ends up ruining someone’s career at some point. The kid is just a thug on skates IMO.
He didn’t do anything wrong, Accept ruffle the feathers of one of Uncle Gary’s star player’s.
BS ya clown
I guess you’ve never played…
This kid better get better control of his play. At this point he as 4 game misconduct penalties, suspended 12 games and only played in 22. Not long for the league if he continues this.
How is he still up? He’s not a hockey player, he’s an ogre. It’s reminds me of man playing in a women’s league. Lol
One of the Nephilim. Ya need to exorcise him.
He’s a goon. Said it when he came up last year. He’s 6’9 245lbs yet jumps at players when hitting them. He’s going to end a career (hopefully his own) by doing this. I love the hard hits and some fighting in the nhl but he’s got to go. Hopefully someone like Olivier knocks him out for good.
Dude just doesn’t get it. It’s great for him that he has a big frame and plays a tough game, but you just can’t have this stuff. 6’8″, 240 is a weapon just like your stick is a weapon and you are responsible for being in control of it. Shame on the rangers for continuing to roll this moron out there.