NY Rangers Matt Rempe handed 8-game SUSPENSION for vicious hit on Stars’ Miro Heiskanen

Rangers forward Matt Rempe has been suspended for eight games by the NHL Department of Player Safety following his hit on Miro Heiskanen.

NY Rangers Matt Rempe handed 8-game SUSPENSION for vicious hit on Stars’ Miro Heiskanen

Matt Rempe has been suspended for boarding and elbowing Miro Heiskanen (Image via Reddit/X)

New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe been handed a massive 8-game suspension by the NHL Department of Player Safety (DoPS) following his vicious hit on Dallas Stars’ Miro Hieskanen. This comes after he was handed a major penalty and ejected from the game on Friday night.

Rempe has had a mixed start to his NHL career. While the 22-year-old has emerged as a fan favorite for his fights, his attacking play has often being criticized. This season he has often being demoted and recalled from the AHL.

YouTube video

In the third period of the Rangers-Stars game, Rempe got into a massive tangle with Hieskanen. The 6 foot 9 forward would barge into the Stars defenseman. Hieskanen would go flying into the protective glass wall and fall down on the ice after Rempe hit him from behind.

FS Video

Roope Hintz did not like this boarding from Rempe and took an exception. He would land some heavy punches on him while standing up for his teammate. The Rangers forward was later removed from the game after this hit.

This turned out to be his fourth ejection in 22 NHL games. The NHL DoPS would later have in person meeting with Rempe. The department labeled him as a “repeat offender” and thus handed him a harsher sentence. In a video statement, the DoPS also claimed that he was in complete control of the play and could have avoided the contact.

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.

NHL DoPS said in a video statement

On top of that he has also been ordered to forfeit $80,000 of his salary. This money will now go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. This suspension of Rempe comes at a time when the Rangers are struggling heavily in the NHL. They have won just one of their last five games.

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NHL insider urges Matt Rempe to appeal his 8-game suspension

The 8-game suspension handed to Matt Rempe by the NHL Department of Player Safety has sparked a furious debate on social media. Some seem pleased with the decision while some have been left stunned. An NHL insider has urged the young forward to appeal this suspension.

Matt Rempe
Matt Rempe (Image via ESPN)

NHL analyst Larry Brooks did not seem pleased with the decision by the DoPS. He called this as “selective prosecution” and called for Rempe to challenge this.

Selective prosecution. Rempe should appeal.

Larry Brooks on X
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Rempe can appeal his suspension to Commissioner Gary Bettman. As his suspension is over six games, he can also appeal to the neutral arbitrator. If successfully, his suspension can come down by a few games. If he does not choose to appeal, Rempe will not be available for the team till January 9, 2025, when the Rangers will take on the New Jersey Devils.