Matt Rempe responds to NHL Player Safety's in person hearing.

Earlier today the National Hockey League announced that New York Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe had been offered an in person hearing following an incident during Friday night's game between Rempe's Rangers and the Dallas Stars. Rempe was ejected from the game for delivering an elbow to the back of Stars star defenseman Miro Heiskanen and the league offered Rempe an in person hearing as a result of that same elbowing rule.

Rempe has however seemingly responded to that offer of an in person hearing with a simple 'no thank you' as the NHL's Department of Player Safety has now made a second announcement. According to the league, Rempe's hearing will take place tomorrow but will be done via a zoom call, with Rempe seemingly declining to appear in person before the disciplinary arm of the league.

In person hearings are only offered to players in the event that the league believes that there is a possibility that a player may be suspended for 6 or more games, in other words in person hearings are usually reserved for the worst offenses or the worst offenders.

In Rempe's case, I believe that both the nature of the infraction as well as the person responsible for that infraction played a role in earning him the potential of 6 or more games.

The hit itself was an ugly looking one with Rempe seemingly driving his forearm and elbow directly into the back of Heiskanen's head, and doing so while Heiskanen had his back turned and was facing directly towards the boards and protective glass. Here is a look at the replay:

The other issue for Rempe here will be the fact that, despite only playing 22 games in total over his NHL career thus far, he has a history of discipline from Player Safety. Rempe was previously suspended 4 games under the same elbowing rule for a hit he delivered to New Jersey Devils' defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler earlier this year. The fact that the suspension was for the same rule, as well as very recent, I believe played a significant role in Rempe heading towards what appears like a harsh suspension.

Here is a look at the hit that led to him being suspended for 4 games.

Rempe has also been ejected 4 times in just 22 career games in the NHL, something that I believe NHL Player Safety is likely also to take under consideration when it comes to his suspension.

We won't have to wait for long to find out how long Rempe will be out, but I suspect that the league will be looking to throw the book at him here.