Rangers' Matt Rempe Suspended 4 Games by NHL for Elbow on Devils' Siegenthaler

New York Rangers rookie enforcer Matt Rempe is set to face his first suspension since being called up to the NHL.

After a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety, Rempe was suspended for four games as a result of his hit on New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler Monday. He was assessed a major penalty for elbowing and given a game misconduct for the hit, which occurred during the second period.

The Department of Player Safety provided an explanation for the suspension, stating that Rempe's hit was not "accidental contact" and that Siegenthaler's movements "did not turn a legal check into an illegal one."

"Rempe chooses to flare his elbow both up and away from his body in dangerous action, driving it directly into the head of Siegenthaler with substantial force," The Department of Player Safety concluded.

The department took into consideration that the play was called a penalty, the play resulted in an injury and that Rempe had no prior suspension history in making its decision.

The incident occurred in Rempe's 10th career game, one which the Rangers won 3-1. Rempe has recorded one goal and one assist since being called up from the AHL Hartford Wolfpack, and has an average time-on-ice of 5:39.

Rempe's large frame at 6'7", 241 pounds, and physical play style was what caused the Rangers to call him up, and he has brought a toughness to the team after Blake Wheeler went down for the season with a lower-body injury.

Since getting the call-up, Rempe has scrapped with notable fighters like Matt Martin, Nicolas Deslauriers, Mathieu Olivier and Ryan Reaves. He also notably caused controversy for a hit on Devils forward Nathan Bastian, which resulted in a roughing and match penalty that ended his night.

He escaped suspension for that hit but was assessed one for the one on Siegenthaler, who exited the game with an upper-body injury.

Rempe will miss the Rangers games against the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders. He will return for the Rangers game against the Winnipeg Jets on March 19.

New York is 42-18-4 and sits in first place in the Metropolitan Division.