The New York Rangers finally returned to the ice, hoping to rid the stink of last season off of them. Facing the rivals across the Hudson River, the New Jersey Devils, and took it to them in a defining 5-3 victory.
One of the standouts from the Sunday matinee matchup, was a player that might finally be breaking through with this franchise. Matt Rempe recently signed a two-year extension this summer, and the hope is that now the bruiser will start to show something else in his game.
After one preseason game, that became apparently clear. The Rempe of old might have finally evolved into something more.
Rempe, the playmaker?
Rempe's game is solely focused on his size and tenacity. His game is north-south, smashmouth hockey, that often results in skirmishes and suspensions. But, now, there seems to be something more.
Over the last couple of offseasons, there have been rumblings of Rempe trying to entertain this change in his game. He used Chris Kreider's skating coach, and spoke his mind to the media about trying to be better with the puck.
During the preseason matchup against the Devils, Rempe showed some of that newfound skill off. He registered an assist on the Dylan Roobroeck goal, in which Rempe skated in on Devils goaltender Nico Daws before Roobroeck picked up the garbage in front of the net.
Spent some time yesterday talking to Rempe about his added burst. More to come on that, but you can see how his speed helps him win the puck race and set up Roobroeck for the goal #NYR 👇🏼pic.twitter.com/q3NMzvLaRl
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) September 21, 2025
This was the first of a couple instances in which he used his body to protect the puck and not try and do harm with it. But, the hitting was still there with being the team-leader in that department, with four. Mike Sullivan raved about Rempe after the game, and it's hard not to be impressed with his start to the preseason.
“The bench lit up when that happened.”
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) September 21, 2025
Mike Sullivan on Matt Rempe’s performance in Rangers’ preseason win pic.twitter.com/xhqEvGv1Da
Rempe still has a lot to prove this season. He should be a mainstay on the fourth-line all season long, and that line is going to be crucial for the success of this team. The other towering force in Adam Edstrom is another improtant part of that line, and the duo can be difference makers in multiple ways this season.
The script might have flipped with a new head coach and new identity of this Rangers team. Rempe might have fine-tuned his game just enough to actually make a difference on the ice, with more than his aggressiveness.