As expected, the Matt Rempe suspension was confirmed yesterday. He laid a pretty bad hit on Jonas Siegenthaler on Monday, and is now suspended for 4 games for the hit. The hit itself was bad, I think we all agree on that. It also seems that the suspension was a bit aggressive for a first time suspension.
Still, the Rangers will be without Rempe for 3 more games, and while it’s assumed he will be reinserted into the lineup, that’s not a guarantee. As per usual, I have some thoughts on the Matt Rempe suspension.
1. For starters, there is no arguing that the Siegenthaler hit was suspension worthy. It does appear Rempe lost his balance and that’s where the elbow game from, but that’s no excuse. He must learn to control his body. He’s already at a disadvantage because even the cleanest hits will likely have the head as the primary point of contact. He’s 6-foot-8, after all. Still, it’s on him to control it.
2. The Nathan Bastian hit, however, was appropriately penalized without a suspension. Bastian’s head was down and Rempe’s elbow was in. Primary point of contact was the head, see above, so the match penalty was appropriate.
3. As for the Matt Rempe suspension itself, four games seems a bit excessive, no? Many were assuming it was going to be a 2 game suspension, since that’s usually what first time offenders get. It seems like the clown show that is the NHL’s DoPS wanted to send a message. But why? Why does a 22 year old kid need a message sent?
Remember, he’s not a malicious kid. He’s a bit irresponsible right now, but he’s not this goon being sent to run people. Irresponsible doesn’t mean mean. It means reckless. And as stated, he needs to get that under control if he’s going to have any kind of NHL career.
4. This recklessness, inability to control his hits, and 5 minute majors will be the primary reasons why Rempe won’t be a regular in the playoffs. He may get a game here and there based on matchups, but the Rangers can ill afford a 5 minute major against the top teams in the league.
Jonny Brodzinski, who again looked good last night, will likely get more games than Rempe in the playoffs. This whole “deterrent” thing isn’t a valid argument anymore. It hasn’t been for at least 20 years at this point. Kurtis MacDermid was on the ice when the Siegenthaler hit happened. He didn’t deter anything. More on that clown in a bit.
5. Perhaps the excessive Matt Rempe suspension has less to do with the hit and more to do with the way the kid has forced himself into the national media conversation. Once that happened, Rempe and his style of play became the focus, for better or for worse. He’s the only player of his kind, where he can move, play the game, deliver the big hit, and fight. He’s not just a one trick pony.
But by transcending the game into the national media conversation, he unfortunately –and by no fault of his own– put a target on his back. Perhaps the Matt Rempe suspension handed down by the DoPS is lighter if he’s not drawing attention from Toronto, Montreal, and other….sensitive….media outlets.
6. A quick point on MacDermid, since that clown was upset. MacDermid, signed by the Devils solely because the Rangers had Rempe (hilarious in its own right since MacDermid can’t play), played just 3:44 in that game. Every second of his ice time was spent trying to get Rempe to fight.
Naturally, MacDermid was upset Rempe didn’t fight. But that’s it. All his posturing in the media had nothing to do with the Siegenthaler hit. It’s that Rempe didn’t fight him before or after. Dave Maloney said it best, “Keep MacDermid on the ice! He can’t play!”
Facts.
7. The Matt Rempe suspension is deserved, even if a bit excessive. But he’s not a goon. That was never his style. He’s a decent two-way forward who can hopefully turn into a solid 4th liner for the Rangers. But if he can’t learn how to hit people with his size, he won’t have an NHL career. He’s extremely coachable, so it’s on the coaches to help him learn from this incident and toe the line better.
Share:
More About:Suspensions/Fines