BREAKING: Rangers’ Matt Rempe Receives 8 game Suspension After Elbowing Predators Player

The NHL Department of Player Safety may have another case to review involving New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe, a player they are becoming quite familiar with. Rempe, who was suspended for eight games last December after an illegal hit on Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, is once again under scrutiny for a high elbow on Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg on Sunday. The incident occurred less than five minutes into the game, leaving Blankenburg shaken on the ice, though Rempe only received a two-minute minor for elbowing.

Following the hit, Predators defenseman Andreas Englund immediately confronted Rempe, leading to a fight that ended in a draw. Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette defended Rempe’s play, attributing the impact to his size.

“Remps is just such a big man. He was forechecking,” Laviolette told New York Post reporter Mollie Walker. “When he hits, he’s just higher than everybody else. I don’t think he hit him, I think he maybe grazed him a little bit. I think it was more of a miss. That’s his game, as well. He’s got to do it within the rules, but we also need him forechecking.”

Given his history, Rempe may face additional discipline. He has already been suspended twice in his young NHL career—first for four games last season after elbowing Jonas Siegenthaler of the New Jersey Devils, and then for eight games in December. Following his latest suspension, Rempe acknowledged the need for better judgment, stating, “I’ve got to be a lot smarter. I don’t have to make every hit. If I’m going to make every hit, some of them are risky.”

Despite the controversy, the Rangers secured a 4-0 win on Sunday with goals from Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, K’Andre Miller, and Brett Berard. The victory improved New York’s record to 30-26-4, bringing them to 64 points—just two behind the Detroit Red Wings (66) for the second wild-card spot.