Matt Rempe's Shows Level-Headedness despite being a healthy scratch by the Rangers

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Joshua Deeds
October 12, 2024 (7:06 PM)

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Matt Rempe is unique in the way he's quick to be very self-aware and introspective as a player, and a person.

This isn't to say all NHLers are boneheaded, or just plain wrong but Rempe has a humility about him that is endearing.

He's spent the offseason trying to improve his game, rather than being a one-dimensional enforcer, like his mentor, Georges Laraque.

The wisdom imparted upon him will be another building block, as Rempe worked on his skating and offensive skills this postseason as well.

Despite that, Rempe is a fan favorite in New York and has had his every move analyzed and questioned through his growth as a player.

However, he held his head high and remained humble after the healthy scratch, which saw Adam Edstrom draw in instead of him.

«You always want to play, but I think that I was happy to make the team,» Rempe said Friday before he was projected to make his season debut in the Rangers' home-opener against Utah Saturday night. «That was the goal going into camp. I just take it as a day to get better. Just get good skills work in that day you aren't playing, watch the game, learn, watch your position - that type of stuff.

He's even demonstrated an awareness that he won't be a factor in every game and that sometimes observation helps.

«Obviously, you want to play every game, but I'm 22 - a lot to learn, a lot to learn. A lot of time to improve. It's alright.»

His training camp was impressive and allowed him to show off his new skills, his puck handling, and skating. Even outskating his peers.

But even then there's always someone better than him, as Adam Edstrom, Brett Berard, and Victor Mancini outshone him.

Peter Laviolette would decide to go with Adam Edstrom in Jimmy Vesey's absence, and the coach said it was about what each player could bring to the line and could change nightly.

«Realistically, I'm in the same position,» said Rempe, who added that he wanted to improve his wall work and the defensive side of his game. «I'm the youngest guy, again. I'm 22. I'm still super young. I just think that inside of my role, a lot of guys are coming in and out like that. I learned from it last year. When you're playing lower minutes, I learned how to play within your game like that, and [when you're] coming in and out, how to stay ready.

While Rempe brought a purely physical game to the fourth line in the past, Brodzinski gives the team some offensive firepower on the line.

So he'll have to wait his turn to show what he's made of in 2024-2025.

«I've done it before. When I was younger in my career, as well, like in Junior and stuff when I was 16. It's all good learning stuff and I know how to handle it.»

Tonight he will get a shot to prove what he's worth tonight against the Utah Hockey Club during tonight's home opener.

Rempe will slot in on the right wing, according to NHL Insider Vince Mercogliano.

Tonight will be a night where Rempe can show off his newly acquired skills, and even fight someone like Lawson Crouse if he's feeling spicy tonight.

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Do you think Matt Rempe will be a better hockey player in 2024-2025 than he was last season?
Yes	103	78 %
No	26	19.7 %
Bob Probert was one of a kind	3	2.3 %
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