Matt Rempe, a forward for the New York Rangers, has been offered an in-person hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety following an incident involving Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen. The incident, which took place during a recent game, involved boarding and elbowing, prompting the department to consider potential disciplinary action.

The hearing is set to occur via Zoom on Sunday, a format that permits the NHL’s senior vice president of player safety, George Parros, to potentially impose a suspension of six games or more. Rempe, standing at an imposing 6-foot-8, gained popularity during his rookie season last year for his willingness to challenge veteran players, reminiscent of the classic enforcers seen in earlier hockey eras. However, his aggressive style has led him to violate league rules on multiple occasions, resulting in two ejections and a prior four-game suspension due to a headshot against Jonas Siegenthaler of the New Jersey Devils.

The decision on Rempe’s suspension will take into account his previous infractions, as well as the nature of the recent hit, which occurred with just 13 minutes remaining in the third period of the game. Following the incident, Heiskanen was able to return and participate in four additional shifts after passing through concussion protocol, as reported by Stars head coach Peter DeBoer, who deemed the hit to be perilous.

This matchup against the Stars marked Rempe’s return to the NHL after being called up from the minors, coinciding with the Rangers trading winger Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken. During the offseason, Rempe devoted considerable effort to enhance his fighting abilities while also focusing on becoming a more well-rounded player.

At the age of 22, Rempe has spent a significant part of the current season with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League. He logged under six minutes of ice time in the Rangers’ 3-1 victory over the Stars. Following the game, Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette praised Rempe, stating that he believed the forward made a substantial contribution to the team’s performance.

“I’d like to avoid the five-minute major penalty, but he is really trying hard to make physical plays and influence the game,” Laviolette noted. “Our team really rallied behind that towards the end.”