Welcome back to NHL notebook — the series here at CanucksArmy where we give you news and notes from around the National Hockey League — oftentimes through a Vancouver Canucks-tinted lens. 
There’s a headline you never thought you’d read.
Sarah Palin weighs in on Matt Rempe suspension
Over the weekend, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety suspended New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe eight games for this hit on Dallas Stars defenceman Miro Heiskanen:
Enforcers haven’t been a regular component of NHL teams for years now, but Rempe, 22, is certainly that for the Rangers. Through 22 career NHL games, Rempe has amassed 95 total penalty minutes, and has one goal and one assist to his name. His fights are regularly the most-watched and highly rated over on HockeyFights.com, and he’s certainly become a controversial topic among hockey fans.
Sarah Palin, the former Alaskan Governor and Republican Vice President nominee for the 2008 US federal election, gave her thoughts on the suspension. On Monday morning, Palin wrote the following to her 1.4 million X followers:
“Shoot. Because HE IS THE DIFFERENCE💪 Since when did so many softies become hockey “fans”?Anti-Rempe tribe wanting to change the game to kumbaya-hockey🙄 think y’all don’t really know the game ~ u better off sticking with tiddlywinks #NHL #Rempe #NYR #LGR”
-Sarah Palin, 2024
I certainly didn’t have that on my 2024 bingo card. Just in the nick of time!
Chris Kreider a healthy scratch for Rangers
Speaking of the Rangers…
Veteran forward Chris Kreider will be a healthy scratch for the Rangers’ matinee matchup with the New Jersey Devils on Monday. Kreider has just two goals over his past 13 games, and the Rangers have lost nine of those 13 games. The Rangers have been one of the league’s biggest disappointments this season, as the 2023-24 President’s Trophy winners find themselves 6th in the Metropolitan Division as we head into the Christmas break.
Kreider, along with Jacob Trouba, was mentioned in trade rumours earlier this season as the Rangers looked for answers. Of course, New York dealt Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks last month, but Kreider, who certainly has more trade value than Trouba, has remained with the team.
Through 30 games this season, Kreider has 11 goals and one assist. The 33 year old has been of the game’s most prolific goal scorers over the past three seasons, as he scored 52 goals in 2021-22, 36 in 22-23, and 39 last season. Kreider is in year five of a seven-year deal that carries an annual average value of $6.5 million.
The Rangers are 3-7-0 in their last ten, and are looking to stop this skid any way they can. We’ll see how it works out for them.
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