In a heated rivalry game between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils, Rangers' rookie Matthew Rempe delivered a controversial hit to the Devils' Nick Bastian. Battling near the boards with his head down, Bastian was struck in the head by Rempe, resulting in a match penalty for roughing after a review of the play.
Despite the contentious nature of the hit and subsequent speculation about potential disciplinary actions such as a suspension or fine, insider Frank Seravalli expressed doubts that any such measures would be taken against Rempe. Seravalli's commentary suggested that Rempe's action, seen as a full-body hit by the larger player, might not attract further scrutiny from the NHL's Department of Player Safety (DoPS). Although the incident might have drawn attention from the DoPS, the decision not to pursue further action could be attributed to factors like Bastian's positioning at the time of the hit and Rempe's size advantage.
Nevertheless, Rempe's growing reputation for aggressive play, highlighted by a previous altercation with Matt Martin and accumulating more penalty minutes than ice time, signals a cautionary tale. His behavior on the ice could eventually draw unwanted attention from the DoPS, emphasizing the need for Rempe to temper his physicality to avoid future disciplinary issues.
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