Rangers’ Rempe Faces 8-Game Suspension for Controversial Hit on Heiskanen of the Stars

The New York Rangers player Matt Rempe received an eight-game suspension on Sunday due to a hit on Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen “that contravened several NHL regulations,” as per the NHL Department of Player Safety.

Rempe is classified as a repeat offender according to the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement. Last season, he faced a four-game ban for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in March. Based on his average annual salary, he will lose $80,000, which will contribute to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Rempe has the option to contest the suspension with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. As the ban exceeds six games, he is also entitled to appeal to a neutral arbitrator.

He did not participate in the Rangers’ 3-1 defeat against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday afternoon.

During the third period at 7:13 on Friday night, in the Rangers’ victory over Dallas, Heiskanen was handling the puck with his back turned to Rempe. The Rangers forward skated in, elevated his arm, and slammed Heiskanen’s head into the glass, resulting in the Dallas defenseman falling to the ice and a brawl breaking out among the players.

For elbowing, Rempe was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct. Heiskanen completed the game for Dallas.

The NHL stated on Sunday that Rempe breached both boarding and elbowing regulations during the incident.

Leading up to the hit, “Rempe sees only Heiskanen’s back” as he approaches, according to NHL Player Safety, emphasizing Rempe’s obligation to modify his approach.

“Rempe thrusts upward into a hard check to a vulnerable Heiskanen while simultaneously extending his elbow and forearm into the back of Heiskanen’s neck, forcefully driving Heiskanen dangerously into the boards and glass,” the department detailed in its judgment.

In deciding the duration of Rempe’s suspension, NHL Player Safety referenced the collective bargaining agreement, which specifies that “players who repeatedly breach league playing regulations shall face increasingly severe penalties for every new infraction.”

Since his four-game suspension last season for elbowing, Rempe has participated in only 23 combined regular-season and playoff matches. That incident occurred during Rempe’s first game back for the Rangers after being recalled from AHL Hartford on Nov. 25. He accrued 17 penalty minutes in 5:32 of ice time, registering one shot on goal and no points.

In 17 regular-season and 11 playoff matches last season for the Rangers, Rempe became a standout because of his height (6-foot-9), substantial hits, and spirited fights. He accumulated 71 penalty minutes over 17 games and earned the admiration of Rangers supporters, who chanted his name at home games despite averaging just 5 minutes, 38 seconds on the ice.

Despite his efforts during the offseason to secure more ice time in the NHL, Rempe has only participated in five games this season, with an average of 6:15.

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette expressed satisfaction with Rempe’s performance in the game against Dallas prior to the hit on Heiskanen.

“I thought he made a significant impact in the game. We would like to avoid the five-minute major, but he’s doing all he can to make hits and influence the game. Our players rallied around that,” Laviolette remarked.