Matt Rempe is a “marked man” ahead of return from suspension!

On Tuesday, the New York Rangers recalled notorious enforcer Matt Rempe from AHL Hartford as the forward is now eligible to return from his eight-game suspension Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. Rempe was suspended in December for boarding and elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, which was not the first time of his young career he was banned by the league. Since he kicked off his time in New York, Rempe has been ejected twice and also received a four-game suspension for an elbow to the head of Devils’ Jonas Siegenthaler back on March 11. He has been assessed four game misconducts as well as eight major penalties in 22 regular-season games for the Rangers.

Answering questions from team insider Peter Baugh after practice on Wednesday, Rempe spoke for the first time since his suspension, acknowledging his hit on Heiskanen was dangerous. While he intends to play smarter from now on, he was fully aware that he is now a marked man across the league.

“Can’t happen again or it’s going to be a huge suspension. … I’m a marked man right now.”

I can only imagine his next suspension being 20 games and over if he ever does something stupid again. However, it feels like Rempe will also be tested by rival players moving forward, especially if he is taunted on the ice or invited to drop the gloves.

Rempe did however reveal that he had a conversition with the head of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety George Parros this summer and is learning on what he needs to change to play a safer game.

“I want to be the most physical guy there is, but if I’m on the ice, I can’t do (what he did in Dallas). I can’t do that.”

Rempe has zero points in five games this season with New York. The previous contest against Dallas was his first back in the NHL after being recalled from Hartford.