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…
Hit from behind, boarding, elbowing, hit the player’s head, and left his feet. I didn’t know all of that was allowed thanks for informing us.
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.
When a player’s time spent in the penalty box is nearly as much as his time on ice, there’s a problem. Not even in the biggest goons back in the day came close to that ratio.
He reminds me of Scott Stevens but with less hockey talent.
guess there were two different Scott Stevens? Dunno which one you’re talking about
The New Jersey Devils Scott Stevens. He was always laying players out with elbows to the head and dirty hits.
He also altered the careers of Paul Kariya and Eric Lindros with dirty hits. I hope the league doesn’t let it get to that point with Rempe.
I agree. There’s no place in hockey for headhunters.
Such a shame. Guy could be a solid bottom 6 player, if he’d just cut out all the Sean Avery (plus size) shenanigans. He has shown an ability to actually play if (extremely big if in his case) not just showcased as the NHL’s newest and biggest man. Unfortunately he runs around gooning instead of helping his team.
Dont you need to be able to skate…to play?
@birdmansns — Apparently not. See Grebenkin, N. in the GTA. Can’t skate his ass out of a wet paper bag, and only has a 2-minute minor for boarding in his brief 7 game career.