Matt Rempe has somehow dodged another suspension. If you watched the game between the New York Rangers and the Nashville Predators, you saw it. Rempe throws a big, high hit on Nick Blankenburg, sending him to the ice. The crowd gasps. The gloves fly. Nashville’s Andreas Englund steps in, fists are thrown, and just like that, the MSG turns into a scene straight out of an old-school hockey brawl. Now, here’s where things get interesting.
Given Rempe’s reputation- the same guy who got bombed with an eight-game suspension not too long ago- everyone figured the NHL’s Department of Player Safety (DoPS) would bring the hammer down. Another suspension? A hefty fine? A public scolding? Nope. Instead, the league determined that Rempe was bracing for the wall, not launching an all-out attack on Blankenburg’s head. They gave him a two-minute minor: no extra punishment, no drama from the league office. Just a shoulder shrug and a “Play on.”
I’m hearing @NHLPlayerSafety has reviewed the Matt Rempe hit and decided there will be no discipline. #NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) March 3, 2025
Why? According to NHL insider, Vince Z. Mercogliano, the league judged the hit on its own merit, not on who threw it. They believed Rempe was bracing for impact, not headhunting, so no extra punishment was needed.
The NY Ranger reporter Vince Z. Mercogliano wrote the reason behind it on X (formerly Twitter): “One thing that’s been emphasized to me about the Rempe elbow is that the DoPS judges the hit on its own merit, regardless of which players were involved. They believe he was bracing for the wall, not trying to injure, and that the two-minute minor was the right amount of discipline.” But fans were far from happy with this decision, especially considering Rempe’s past transgressions.
Matt Rempe’s all-time ‘elbowing’ records
Well, this isn’t Matt Rempe’s first rodeo when it comes to his elbowing. If you’ve been following his game, you already know he’s got a bit in his records.
Just two months ago, he laid out Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars with a hit that had everyone talking. Heiskanen had his back turned, and instead of letting up, Rempe drove his right arm straight into the Stars defenseman’s face, sending him crashing into the glass.
That one got him an eight-game suspension and a reputation as a guy who plays right on the edge.
Go back 11 months, and you’ll find another classic Matt Rempe elbow special. This time, his target was Jonas Siegenthaler of the New Jersey Devils, as reported by BolaVIP. The Rangers were up 2-0 in the second period, and Rempe decided to make his presence felt. Unlike the Heiskanen hit, this one was face-to-face, and there was no mistaking it; his elbow connected directly with Siegenthaler’s head. No turning, no blindside, just a full-force impact.
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