The NHL suspended New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe eight games Sunday for elbowing and boarding Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen.
The longest suspension of the 2024-25 regular season was handed down after Rempe had an in-person hearing via video conference call with the NHL Department of Player Safety earlier Sunday.
Rempe, 22, is considered a repeat offender after being suspended four games for elbowing Jonas Siegenthaler of the New Jersey Devils in the head last March. That was taken into consideration when the department landed on the eight-game ban.
During the Rangers’ 3-1 win at Dallas on Friday, Rempe elbowed Heiskanen in the back of the neck and sent him into the boards at 7:10 of the third period.
Rempe received a major penalty and a game misconduct. Rempe and Stars center Roope Hintz also received roughing penalties during the incident.
“It is important to note that for an extended period of time and during the entire leadup to this hit, Rempe sees nothing but Heiskanen’s back,” a Department of Player Safety official said in an explanation video.
“Rempe is in complete control of how this play develops, and it is Rempe’s responsibility in this situation to avoid the contact, change the angle such that he does not hit a defenseless player directly from behind, or at very least to minimize the force of an imminent collision. Instead, Rempe chooses to not only finish this check into the back of his opponent, but also to raise his forearm and elbow recklessly.”
In his second NHL season, Rempe has more career ejections (three) than points (two). He has appeared in 22 total games while being suspended for a total of 12.
The suspension began Sunday with New York’s 3-1 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He will not be eligible to return until Jan. 9 when the Rangers host New Jersey.
Rempe has no points, 24 penalty minutes and 12 hits in five games this season. Listed at 6-foot-9 and 255 pounds, he played in 17 games last season with New York and totaled one goal, one assist, 71 penalty minutes and 50 hits.
The Rangers selected Rempe in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media
