Matt Rempe scores the most ‘Matt Rempe’ goal yet — and proves he deserves his Rangers roster spot

There's always been something innately likable about Matt Rempe. It started the moment he first stepped on the ice for the New York Rangers during their Stadium Series matchup against the Islanders back in 2024. I was at MetLife Stadium that very cold afternoon and watched him skate his rookie lap alone in front of 80,000 fans and look absolutely delighted in the process. It only took 90 seconds of gameplay for Rempe to drop the gloves and go toe-to-toe with Matt Martin, setting the tone for a showdown that would turn into an instant classic.

Rempe may or may not have realized it in the moment, but he was also setting the tone for his fledgling pro career. Everyone wanted a piece of the 6'9" Canadian maple tree on skates, and let's just say the kid was more than happy to give everybody a piece.

It endeared him to Rangers fans in a way that few players ever do, and maybe that was the problem, because the thing they loved most about him... wasn't actually him. The lovable goon of goons was nothing of the sort in his minor league career, but I'm sure he felt the safest way to stay in the pros was the play the part people wanted him to play.

As a result, the rest of Rempe's game has been mostly either dismissed or treated as a joke. So, it's okay if your gut reaction to seeing his first goal of this season last night in Pittsburgh was to laugh.

It's perfect.

Who better to score a goal as a direct result of falling down than Matt Rempe? Except, Matt Rempe was not just falling down on that play. He was doing something he's done exceptionally well in the first few games of this season. Crashing the net, agitating defenders and goaltenders and just generally creating chaos in the offensive zone.

Rempe was one of the most efficient Rangers on the ice for their brutal 6-1 beatdown of the Penguins in Pittsburgh, just days after the entire team looked anemic against the Pens at MSG on opening night. Even in that game, though, Rempe's game graded out better than the likes of Alexis Lafrenière, Adam Fox and J.T. Miller. He was rated a top six forward in the Blueshirts' 4-0 win against Buffalo, as well.

Of course, he is benefitting from only having half the time on ice as those players every game, but that also means he's making the most of those minutes. Minutes that are starting the year on a career-high pace (9:50). New head coach Mike Sullivan has also made it crystal clear that he considers Rempe a serious weapon, even giving him consistent run on the second powerplay unit.

All that said, the person taking Matt Rempe the most seriously this season thus far is... Matt Rempe. For proof, look no further than this:

It's only three games, but it's a far cry from the player that averaged 2.3 PIM in his previous 59 and had even his most fervent supporters wondering if his ultimate fate would be an indefinite suspension from the league. Old Matt Rempe was entertaining as hell but, if this is "new Matt Rempe," I think every Rangers fan will be welcoming him with open arms.