New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe will have a phone hearing for an illegal elbow against New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler. The elbow, which made direct contact with Siegenthaler’s head, earned Rempe a game misconduct and forced Siegenthaler out of the game. It also earned Devils utility man Kurtis MacDermid a 10-minute misconduct, as he dropped the gloves to retaliate against Rempe. On Siegenthaler’s status, interim head coach Travis Green said postgame, “He’s not doing great, obviously. He didn’t come back. You never like to see a player get hit like that, especially that’s happened twice now.”
A phone hearing will limit Rempe to a maximum five-game suspension. It’s his first encounter with the Department of Player Safety, coming just 10 games in to his NHL career. Rempe has quickly established himself as a modern-day goon, already racking up a whopping 54 penalty minutes. He leads the NHL in penalty minutes-per-game, averaging 5:24 in penalties, compared to his average 5:38 of ice time. It’s the most penalty minutes a rookie has averaged through their first 10 games since Tom Sestito, Daniel Carcillo, and Gordi Dwyer – joining the company of legendary goons like Mike Peluso, Kelly Chase, and Darin Kimble. The stat is led by Steve Martinson, who averaged a daunting 8:24 in penalty minutes through his first 10 games.
While DoPS decisions are never easy to predict, it’s likely the New York Rangers are preparing for an extended stint without Rempe. They currently carry Jonny Brodzinski as their only extra forward. Brodzinski has played in 43 games this season, scoring four goals and 15 points. The Rangers could also recall Tyler Pitlick or Adam Edström – who have appeared in 34 and 11 NHL games respectively – though it would use up one of their three remaining recalls on the season.
Arrive at the book in ill humor
“utility man”: terrific
Why did the league ignore Marchand’s dangerous and illegal hit on Arvidsson back in February? Was it because the NHL didn’t want Marchand to be in street clothes during his 1,000 game ceremony? That intentional and egregious hit proves the league doesn’t care about player safety!!!!
Rempe-stiltskin is going to be spending a lot of time spinning straw into gold to pay the fines he’s destined to accumulate. Not to mention the hourglass draining the sand on his time in the NHL, at the rate he’s going.
Mac Jab check me on Spotify
@Dave — Am I in the right place with an episode featuring “Dave rips NJ over Lindy”? (BTW, there are a crapload of Dave/David Frost items in Spotify. I had to hope their search engine would find the right place with “nhl” or “hockey”.)
The NHL has unfortunately find Mr. Rempe $5000 thank you.
F U New Jersey
@Al Hirschen — Or, did you mean 4 games?
You will go far calling them goons.
Has to be a full max 5 game suspension if the league wants to start being consistent at any time.
Need goons like this guy and Tom Wilson out of the league for good.
It’s all fun and games until the karma bill comes due.