Rangers Coach Breaks Silence on Matt Rempe's Healthy Scratch

The New York Rangers could not have opened their 2024-25 NHL season in a more promising way as they went on to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-0 on the road on Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena.

Chris Kreider led the charge with two goals. Alexis Lafreniere contributed a goal and an assist, with Jacob Trouba and Artemi Panarin each adding two assists. Filip Chytil, Vincent Trocheck and Sam Carrick also found the back of the net.

Meanwhile, headline-maker goalie Igor Shesterkin recorded 29 saves, recording the first Rangers shutout in a season opener since 1956.

Although it didn't prove wrong at the end of the day given the result, Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette made a significant decision ahead of the victory that wouldn't have happened at the end of last season.

Laviolette decided to make 22-year-old forward Matt Rempe a healthy scratch to start the season, thrusting Adam Edstrom and Jonny Brodzinski to take on fourth-line forward spots on Wednesday.

The coach explained his decision, attributing the move to the particular matchup and challenges posed by Pittsburgh, via USA Today's Vince Mercogliano.

"This isn't about scratching somebody," Laviolette said. "Sometimes it's going to be about the opponent; sometimes it's going to be about play. I think Jonny (Brodzinski) had a really good camp."

In Laviolette's eyes, Brodzinski, who started on the fourth line alongside Edstrom and Sam Carrick, impressed during training camp, pushing Rempe out of the lineup for the season opener.

Edstrom’s strong camp performance also played a role, as he outplayed other fourth-line candidates, including Rempe.

In fairness, Rempe had limited ice time last season. He only appeared in 17 regular-season games and scored 1 goal and 1 assist through a little over 95 minutes of playing time with an average time on ice of just 5:38 minutes per game.

Rempe was also scratched at times during the playoffs, playing in only 11 postseason games with 1 goal.

The Rangers will play their next game inside Madison Square Garden when they host the brand-new Utah Hockey Club on Saturday. Considering Rempe's cult-like following among Rangers fans, it's probable he will make the lineup for the weekend matchup.

Related: Report: Igor Shesterkin's Reason for Rangers' Contract Rejection Exposed