NHL hands out harsh suspension to Matt Rempe

Moments ago, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced their suspension for Rangers rookie forward Matt Rempe. In last night's game against the Devils, Rempe delivered a dangerous elbow to the head of defenceman Jonas Siegenthaler and received a major penalty and game misconduct. Now, the NHL has suspended him for four games.

This is a very harsh suspension by Player Safety terms, who are supposed to take into account experience and history into supplemental discipline. A four game suspension for a first time offence is a strong message to Rempe that these kinds of hits are unacceptable, and will be punished accordingly. Still, it always seems like other hits just as worse go unpunished, which leads to wonders about Rempe appealing the suspension.




After making waves for ferociously fighting in his first few games in the league, Rempe broke the code last night. He denied fights from the Devils several times before throwing this huge hit and getting ejected, waving goodbye to the Devils on his way off. As a fighter like Rempe, it's completely disrespectful to not answer the bell after laying a huge hit - to taunt the other team too makes it that much worse.


Devils defenceman Kurtis MacDermid actually said in last night's interview that he lost respect for Rempe after the game. Due to this terrible hit and disrespecting the code, many others around the league are feeling the same way.