Revisiting the Matt Rempe and Ryan Reaves Fight

Last year, the New York Rangers were the best team in the regular season, but couldn't quite capitalize on it in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. En route to the Blueshirts winning the Presidents’ Trophy, there were plenty of memorable moments to the 2023-24 season. This included adding Matt Rempe to the roster for his first season in the league.

Let’s take a look at one of center Matt Rempe’s more memorable moments of the year ahead of the Rangers’ season opener at the Bruins on Sunday, Sept. 22.

A look back at Matt Rempe Squaring Off against Ryan Reaves

Rempe had been promoted from the Hartford Wolfpack to the Rangers last season. Standing at 6-foot-8, he quickly became a known enforcer in the league.

On March 2, 2024, the Rangers were up by a goal in the first period against the Maple Leafs when veteran bruiser Ryan Reaves started chirping at Rempe. Rempe stayed focused on his play, but Reaves challenged Rempe again when the Rangers were down by a goal in the third period.

And this time — all gloves were off.

“I thought that was an appropriate time to ask,” Reaves then said about the timing of the fight. “Good on him for doing it. He’s a big boy.”

The pair have a 16-year age gap, with Rempe being a mere three years old when the St. Louis Blues selected Reaves in 2005. As for a physical difference, Reaves is six inches shorter than Rempe and weighs 225 pounds compared to the Rangers player’s 241.

As for similarities, Reaves has over 75 fights in his career on the ice — similar to Rempe in being one of the NHL’s face-punchers. 

Rempe had the advantage early, but once Reaves got in his stride, he landed a few nice blows before the end. The fight ended with both smiling on the way to the penalty box, with neither player hitting the ice.

The Hockey Fights fan vote declared Rempe the winner.

While this was one of Rempe’s more iconic moments of the season, he also still managed to accumulate some stats in his book.

The Canadian played in 17 games across both the regular and postseason, and even scored a goal during the playoffs as well.

As for as Reaves is concerned, Rempe has a bright future in the league. Who's to say he doesn’t draw more attention to himself this upcoming season as well?

“He’s going to be a menace in this league,” Reaves also then said, with a smirk.