NHL Department of Player Safety Issue Severe Punishment to Matt Rempe for Unsportsmanlike Hit
The NHL handed out their verdict for Matt Rempe's dangerous elbow on Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen on Friday night.
In what seems like par for the course for the New York Rangers' Matt Rempe, the towering center has found himself again in the middle of another controversial hit.
During New York's game against Dallas on Friday, Rempe took a run at defenseman Miro Heiskanen and laid in a dangerous elbow that smashed Heiskanen's head against the glass.
It was a vicious bit of hockey that saw Rempe get penalized and ejected for already the fourth time in only 22 NHL games according to Sportsnet.
Rempe's actions had him earn the ire of the NHL Player Safety Department, as he was offered an in-person hearing on Sunday which could lead to a hefty suspension.
Well, the NHL decided that Rempe's hit deserved extra punishment as the enforcer was suspended by the league on Sunday, getting a heft 8-game ban for his vicious actions.
The news was also relayed by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, who speculated on Saturday that Rempe would receive anywhere from 8-10 games for the elbow.
Matt Rempe Needs A Reality Check
Being ejected four times already in a 22-game career is certainly one way to make a name for yourself, but for Rempe it feels like he's hindering any chance at having a long NHL tenure.
Unable to keep his frustrations in check, his old-school method of playing is something that has become a thing of the past, and he's getting punished not because he doesn't play hard, but he doesn't play smart.
Rempe's a serious repeat offender, and already served a four-game ban for elbowing Jonas Siegenthaler last season. He has two career points and it's ironically impressive he's been ejected more than he's scored.
The struggling Rangers have yet another negative to add to their season, as the team looks to see what they can do to stop their unbelievable slide in the Metropolitan Division and sit with a 16-15-1 record.
For now, they will continue to try and stop the bleeding without Rempe, as they take on the New Jersey Devils before the break, a surely needed one for GM Chris Drury and company.
