The New York Rangers have a number of restricted free agents to deal with this offseason, and they just took care of business with their biggest one.
Matt Rempe, the biggest player on the team's roster, has reportedly agreed to terms on a new two-year contract with the Rangers according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post.
Rangers and Matt Rempe have agreed to two-year deal for what is believed somewhat under $1M per, Post has learned...Removes No. 73 an offer-sheet possibility...Rempe has been back in NY/CT for a couple of weeks, working with skills coach and in the gym...
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) June 18, 2025
Matt Rempe's two-year extension comes with an AAV of $975,000, per source. https://t.co/5VWLvFYMgI
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) June 18, 2025
#NYR and Matt Rempe have agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) June 18, 2025
Full details: https://t.co/43khHHfDpG pic.twitter.com/8rkdf2Se3Z
Rempe was selected 165th overall at the 2020 NHL draft and appeared in 42 games with the Rangers this past season. The 6'9" and 255-pound behemoth tallied three goals and added five assists for eight points while averaging just 8:30 per game. The 2024-25 campaign marked Rempe's second tour of action on Broadway, as he logged 17 games the year prior and had a line of 1-1-2 while averaging a meager 5:38 per game.
Prior to Rempe's signing, the Rangers had $14,922,142 in cap space. His new deal won't impact the team financially all that much, but he is now in a position to take up a roster spot again. The Rangers will need to use this season to find out what they truly have in Rempe, because thus far they've been at a disadvantage by dressing him for games and then stapling him to the bench for most of the time. If he's going to occupy a spot on the roster, the Rangers need him to be able to play a normal rotation.
If Rempe is incapable of doing that, he can go back to the American Hockey League, or potentially end up on another NHL team. Part of the reason why the Rangers have been cautious with Rempe is his discipline, as he's already been suspended twice in his career. His first suspension of four games came after elbowing Jonas Sigenthaler of the New Jersey Devils in the head. Rempe's most recent suspension was an eight game ban after a questionable hit on Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars.
In any case, Rempe is coming back. The Rangers clearly appreciate his size and work ethic. To his credit, Rempe is trying to work on his hockey skills to be more of a contributor, and if he can do more of that and less of things that get his suspended, the team will be in good shape. That, however, remains to be seen.