Matt Rempe received an eight-game suspension for his hit on Miro Heiskanen and it sparked a conversation about his future in the NHL.
This incident occurred Friday evening during the third period of a game between the New York Rangers and Dallas Stars.
The puck had already left Heiskanen’s stick, but Rempe came flying in with his elbow aimed at Heiskanen’s head.
The NHL Department of Player Safety called the hit “boarding/elbowing.” The hearing between the NHL Department of Player Safety and Rempe took place on Sunday.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet strongly believes that Rempe’s punishment was justified and that the young enforcer should learn from mistakes like this.
“He deserved the suspension for it and all I can say is I hope he learns his lessons… He just needs to learn his lessons, and if he doesn’t then he’ll continue to get suspended or end up living his NHL dreams will come to an end,” Friedman said.
Rempe has been assessed four game misconducts and eight major penalties in 22 regular-season games for the Rangers.
The 22-year-old made it clear before the start of the season that he wants to be more than just an enforcer and is keen to impact the game in other ways.
“I want to be a player. I want to be a hockey player,” Rempe said. “(Fighting) is part of the game and it’s a nice tool to have, but I want to be a fast, physical player first…
“I give high priority to the skills and the skating. I have to become a better player, so I have to work on that. I think I have made big steps with that this summer.”
The Rangers have sent Rempe up and down the American Hockey League over the course of this season, so he hasn’t really gotten a chance to showcase his overall skills.
However, when he is in the Rangers lineup, Rempe has stuck to his similar physical playbook, which is good at times, but he must learn to keep it under control.
Rempe is still young, so we will see how he will ultimately react to this suspension.
