New York Rangers finally recognize Matt Rempe's growth

Imagine — you're in your first full season in the National Hockey League and while you're primarily an enforcer and have gotten over eight points of your own, people doubt your skills. To top it all off, your team was just mathematically eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The fanbase needs a spark, and that spark is you.

That is the position 22-year-old Matt Rempe has found himself in. And he proved his haters wrong in the New York Rangers' Monday night 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers when he logged his first multi-point game of his career.

Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made a save on K’Andre Miller’s wrist shot from near the blue line, but Rempe picked up the rebound while jostling with Seth Jones for positioning at the top of the crease. Rempe flipped the puck into the net and pumped his fist, scoring his third goal of the season — his first since Feb. 25.

During the intermission report, Rempe remained humble and said he credited K'Andre Miller with the hard work.

"We want to play with pride and finish these last games hard. [K'Andre Miller] had a great shot there and I was just there on the doordash and I just tapped it in. My skating has come a long way up and down the rink ... I'm just trying to learn everyday and grow everyday, I think I've come a long way but I think I'm growing a lot."

Matt Rempe

But the 6'9" 255-pound forward nearly scored another goal seven minutes into the second period, when the Rangers trailed 2-1. Like a living version of Wreck-it-Ralph, Rempe burst up right wing with the puck, cut to the net with a power move and was just shy when Bobrovsky poke-checked the puck off his stick.

Postgame, Rempe elaborated on his efforts and personal growth by saying he wants to put forth extra energy for the Blueshirt faithful.

"Obviously we've had a very disappointing season and in these two games we've got to play for the jersey and for the fans and everything. We want to put forth a good effort. I'm happy with the win."

Matt Rempe postgame

For his second point of the game Rempe tallied an assist. He did so by out-muscling Dmitry Kulikov in the neutral zone to pick up a loose puck, then moving across the ice to the net. Chaos ensued, resulting in a goal from Jonny Brodzinski at 16:31.

Postgame, New York Rangers Head Coach Peter Laviolette said that he also recognizes the growth in skill from the Alberta, Canada native.

"Huge. Huge growth for Remp. He's attacking the ice now with the puck. From our end, he's getting it with a little bit of speed underneath it before our blue line. He's attacking the neutral zone, he's going to the net, he's making plays, he's going through defenders. He played a heck of a game tonight... The growth has been visible for everybody, not just me, but everybody sees it that watches him play."

Head Coach Peter Laviolette

The sport of hockey is in Rempe's DNA. He has two sisters, Alley and Steph, who are twins. They are both former members of Brown University's women's ice hockey team.

Rempe really electrified the fan base in the final two months of the 2023-24 season after debuting in the 2024 Stadium Series against the New York Islanders. And while he's brought life to the Rangers with big hits and viral fights, it's time for people to recognize his skill.

Going into the Rangers' final game of the season on Thursday — he has 58 career games played, including 10 points off of four goals and six assists. And rest assured, there's many more points to come in Rempe's future.