"Tkachuk still taking too many penalties as captain"; "Rempe's not even on the list": Fans react to 2024 NHL penalty minutes leaders list 

Sportsnet published its “naughty” list for 2024, highlighting the NHL’s penalty minutes leaders. The list includes some of the usual suspects, but a couple of names stood out, such as Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, and one particular name not included on the list.

The list prompted a flurry of fan reactions on social media questioning why some players have racked up so many penalty minutes.

Here’s a closer look at some of the comments from fans online:

“Tkachuk still taking too many penalties as a captain. His needless penalty in the 2nd vs the Oilers put Edm on the PP. And the Sens went from tied to down 2-1,” one fan opined.

“Brad Marchand snubbed,” a fan weighed in.

“They’re so scared of Arber,” another fan commented.

While fans were critical of the players on the list, one glaring omission stood out. New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe did not crack the list, which prompted many to express their surprise about it.

Here are some more reactions from fans on X/Twitter:

“Rempe’s not even a dirty player, look he’s not even on the list,” one fan said.

“Rempe would be top of the list if he played more than 30 min,” another fan wrote.

“The real number 1: Rempe,” one fan added.

While fans have been clamoring for Matt Rempe to make the list, he wasn’t included in this season’s list of NHL infractors.

Matt Rempe could have made the NHL’s naughty list

Fans calling for Matt Rempe’s inclusion in the NHL’s naughty list for 2024 is somewhat warranted. The list covers the number of penalty minutes accrued from Jan. 1 to Dec. 24, 2024.

Under that assumption, Rempe would have tied Tom Wilson at 95 PIM. Rempe had accrued 95 PIM in 22 regular season games. He also added 10 more PIM in 11 postseason games last Spring.

Rempe played his first NHL game on Feb. 18 against the New York Islanders. He finished off the season on the Rangers’ roster, racking up a considerable amount of PIM. In particular, Rempe tallied 15 against the New Jersey Devils twice on March 11 and April 3.

However, Rempe’s record to date was on Dec. 20 against the Dallas Stars, the game in which Rempe drilled Miro Heiskanen, earning him 17 PIM on the night and an eight-game suspension by the league's Department of Player Safety.

All told, Rempe has made a case for his inclusion on the naughty list. Given his current eight-game ban, he’s likely done for 2024. But he’ll get a chance to start over in 2025.