Another monster-sized Rangers prospect sees path to NHL thanks to Matt Rempe

The legend of Matt Rempe has taken the NHL by storm since he debuted at the Stadium Series back in February. While New York Rangers fans have fallen in love with the 6-foot-8 rookie that hits like a train and is willing to take on any heavyweight, his success is catching the eye of another monster-sized prospect.

Dylan Roobroeck, selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft by the Blueshirts comes in at 6-foot-7, and has taken his game to another level after seeing Rempe’s success on Broadway. As the Oshawa Generals find themselves one win away from the Ontario Hockey League Final, his coach Derek Laxdall made a very interesting observation.

“It’s funny, ever since Rempe has come on the scene with the Rangers, Dylan has really picked up his game,” Laxdall explained . “He sees the effectiveness of a big, heavy player and what he could do. Dylan has a great skill set. He skates well for a big man… he’s really taken a huge step in that area.”

On Monday night, Roobroeck got his first point of the Eastern Conference Final with an assist while winning 11 of 16 draws in a 5-2 win. Heading into Wednesday’s Game 4 against the North Bay Battalion, his 17 points are third on the team in playoff scoring.

Related: Matt Rempe lineup status for round two

Matt Rempe inspires Dylan Roobroeck

The native of London, Ontario was originally drafted by the Niagara Ice Dogs in the third round of the 2020 OHL Draft. After one season, he was traded to Oshawa in exchange for an 8th Round Pick in 2024.

“He’s been a real great acquisition,” Laxdall said . “You saw what he did this year. He plays center and left wing. He’s on the penalty kill and power play. When he’s moving his feet, he’s effective and when he gets physical or into fights, he’s really effective.”

Roobroeck, 19, shows excellent playmaking skills by regularly slipping pucks under the sticks of opposing defenders to teammates for great scoring chances. He also has the puck handling skills to deke around players and sports a strong backhand. As his coach mentioned, his skating ability is a pleasant surprise for a player of his stature.

All in all, he exploded this past year with 26 goals and 46 assists for 72 points in 68 games. His assist total was good for third on the team, while his overall points were second behind Calum Ritchie, a first-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2023. As far as the rough stuff goes, Roobroeck’s 101 penalty minutes were the second most on the team behind Dallas Stars’ signee Connor Punnett, who had 123 penalty minutes during the regular season.

When New York traded for Andrew Copp from the Winnipeg Jets back in 2022, they also received a draft pick which was used to select Roobroeck. Although he has yet to sign an entry-level deal with the Rangers, it seems like a foregone conclusion thanks to his recent performance.

“Give him a lot of credit because he’s done a lot in the summer to get bigger and stronger,” Laxdall concluded. “We’re looking forward to see what he does at the next level in the American Hockey League and possibly the National Hockey League.”

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