Matt Rempe back with Rangers, OK with minor league assignment: ‘want to grow my game’
By Jim Cerny,
1 days ago
Sure, Matt Rempe is happy to be back with the New York Rangers. Especially if he’s in the lineup Tuesday against the Washington Capitals, which, based on line combinations at practice Monday, it appears he will be.
But if you expect any negative vibes from the 6-foot-9 forward about being assigned to Hartford of the American Hockey League for two games this past weekend, then you’ll be disappointed. In fact, Rempe was extremely upbeat about the opportunity to play big minutes in all game situations for the Wolf Pack, even if it was down in the minors.
“I’m so young still. I want to go play games. I want to grow my game,” Rempe told reporters after practice. “I got to get a lot better in all areas. I think that’s great for me to go play. That was the first time I played PK and power play in a pro hockey game ever … So that was great.”
The 22-year-old appeared in two of New York’s first seven games, averaging 5:39 TOI. So, knowing that Rempe wouldn’t be in the lineup against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, the Rangers sent him to Hartford for games Friday and Sunday.
Though he didn’t record a point and was minus-3, Rempe benefitted greatly from the opportunity to simply play, and play a lot.
“Got to go play 17/18/19 minutes the last two games, played center, played all situations. It was good for me,” Rempe explained. “Hadn’t played a lot of minutes in a long while so it was good for me to get all those game situations, feel the puck, play not just the physical side and play in a top-six role.”
Rangers ‘saw an opportunity’ for Matt Rempe to get extra work in this past weekend
Danny Wild-Imagn Images
The Rangers fourth line has been at its best in their 6-1-1 start to the season with Adam Edstrom and Jonny Brodzinski flanking center Sam Carrick. That hasn’t left much of an opportunity for Rempe, who worked hard this summer on improving each aspect of his game, including time spent with teammate Chris Kreider.
With forward Jimmy Vesey practicing again and eligible to come off LTIR on Sunday against the Islanders, Rempe could be facing an extended stretch in the AHL. But, as Rempe pointed out, he’s young still and time in the minors can be a positive for him.
“Him going down and playing two games and playing 16-18 minutes in all situations, that’s great of him and his development,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said Monday . “He’s a young player that’s continuing to work at his game, work at his craft. We saw an opportunity, got an opportunity to go down and get him some minutes and we did that.”
Rempe took first reps as the right wing on the fourth line at practice, with Brodzinski skating as the extra forward. That’d make sense since the Rangers visit the Capitals next, and Washington deploys a heavy lineup that features the likes of Tom Wilson and former Blueshirt Dylan McIlrath.
That could’ve been part of the thought process all along. Let Rempe play big minutes over the weekend in the minors so that he’s ready for his next crack in the Rangers lineup Tuesday.
Then it’s the Ottawa Senators coming to MSG on Friday, and the Islanders following them in Sunday. But Laviolette won’t make any guarantees about future lineups or where Rempe fits or doesn’t moving forward.
“We’re going to put the roster in that we feel gives us the best chance of being successful.”
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