New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe has been offered an in-person hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety to address his actions involving boarding and elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen.
The in-person hearing, which may be conducted via Zoom, provides an opportunity for senior vice president of player safety George Parros and his team to potentially suspend Rempe for six or more games. The date and time of the hearing are yet to be determined, as announced by the league on Saturday.
Rempe, a 6-foot-8 player, gained popularity last season during his rookie year for engaging in physical confrontations with veteran players, reminiscent of traditional enforcers in hockey. However, he has also faced disciplinary actions, including ejections and a previous four-game suspension for elbowing New Jersey’s Jonas Siegenthaler.
These past incidents are taken into account when determining the length of the potential suspension, along with the severity of the recent incident involving Heiskanen, who returned to the game after undergoing concussion protocol.
Friday night's game against the Dallas Stars marked Rempe's return to the NHL after being called up from the minors following a trade involving winger Kaapo Kakko. Despite his reputation as a physical player, Rempe has been working on improving his overall game.
At 22 years old, Rempe has primarily played for Hartford in the American Hockey League this season. In the recent game against the Stars, he played a limited role but made an impact according to Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, who praised Rempe's effort to contribute physically to the team's performance.
Laviolette expressed a desire to avoid major penalties but acknowledged Rempe's efforts to energize the team through physical play. The Rangers coach highlighted the team's response to Rempe's style of play, indicating a positive reaction from the players.
For more NHL news and updates, visit AP NHL.
