Despite less-than-stellar play, Matt Rempe continues to be a fan favorite. With his physical play style and willingness to get into a tilt, he has earned a lot of praise from the fanbase. He also has a great personality that shines through his charity work and social media presence.
While he may be a fun hang and provides some physicality, he appears to be in a roster fight. His spot on the 2026-27 Rangers is up in the air, and he will have to have a strong camp and preseason to show he belongs. But what will he have to do to stay on the team?
How can Matt Rempe get a starting job in 2026-27
In 26 games last season, Rempe was a solid contributor for the Rangers. Sure, he only registered one goal, coming in the 6-1 win against the Penguins in October of last season. But he brought the physical edge to the bottom six. He delivered 86 hits last season, which means he averaged just over three hits a game. While Rempe did not have a permanent role in the Rangers lineup, he did miss time due to a thumb injury after getting into a fight with Ryan Reaves.
So Rempe has a lot to prove this preseason, the biggest of which is whether he is healthy. He needs to show the Rangers that his thumb injury is a thing of the past and that he is ready to start this season fresh. The best way to see that is how aggressive he plays in the preseason. When he was injured last season, he stepped back from that physical style of play that he is known for. His not being afraid to lay a hit or get into a fight will be an indicator that he is healthy.
But being healthy is not enough for him to make the roster. He also has to show improvement in his skating and offensive ability. Sure, physicality and playing that enforcer role are what got him into the NHL. But in today's game, that alone won't cut it. While laying hits and being a protector on the ice is important, if you struggle with skating or bring nothing offensively, you're a liability. You are capping the ability of a line and thus making the lineup weaker.
Now, Rempe does not need to become this point-per-game player and be the main driver of offense. At the end of the day, his main role will always be to provide physical play and be that "goon" in the lineup. But it's not much to ask for him to have around 15 points per season. He should focus on being a better passer and setting up his teammates. This is an easy way for him to be a more productive part of the offense.
This preseason is a golden opportunity for Rempe to show he is more than just an enforcer. If he plays well in the preseason he can be a staple of the Rangers bottom six.
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