Rangers' Rempe: 'Acquired to turn out to be a greater participant'

ARLINGTON, Va. — Matt Rempe needs to be a better fighter and a greater hockey participant as he enters his first full NHL season with the New York Rangers.

The 6-foot-9 ahead was a sensation final season, amassing 71 penalty minutes in 17 regular-season video games by a sequence of energetic fights. Rangers followers would chant his title even when he wasn’t on the ice.

“It looks as if a dream. They’re the very best followers on the planet. You need to go to battle for them each single time,” stated Rempe, talking on the NHLPA rookie showcase on Wednesday. “It is a surreal expertise. You’re feeling such as you’re virtually floating.”

Some felt Rempe dropped the gloves too typically in his first season. Rempe disagrees.

“No, in no way. You have to assume that I am 21 years outdated within the NHL and I’ve legends like [Matt] Martin and [Nicolas] Deslauriers, all these guys who need to combat. I am in no place to say ‘no’ there. I feel that they are giving me a possibility, and I one hundred pc need to try this,” he stated.

Rempe famous that because the season wore on, he fought much less. He solely had one combat in his final seven regular-season video games and did not combat in 11 playoff video games for the Rangers — together with when Capitals ahead Tom Wilson requested him to go throughout their first-round sequence.

“In that situation, we’re up 2-0 within the sequence and we’re up in that sport, in Washington’s barn. There isn’t any profit for me taking that combat,” he stated. “I feel that is simply attempting to develop and be smarter. I am having an impact. I used to be being very bodily that sport. I used to be having an impression with out combating.”

May he say “no” extra typically in his second NHL season?

“However I actually take pleasure in it. That is the factor as properly,” stated Rempe, with fun. “I do not know. I need to be a hockey participant but it surely’s a part of the sport. It is a good software to have.”

Whereas the followers buzzed about Rempe’s fights, others took curiosity as properly. Some gamers on the NHLPA rookie showcase have been excited for the possibility to satisfy Rempe, together with Pittsburgh Penguins rookie ahead Rutger McGroarty.

“It is so cool to see what that man’s performed. Truthfully, he will get a number of credit score for his fights, however he is aware of play the sport too,” McGroarty stated. “One-of-a-kind man, truthfully. Such a pleasant man. So all the way down to earth.”

One other group that took curiosity in Rempe final season: retired former NHL enforcers, who provided their unsolicited recommendation to the Rangers ahead by social media messages.

“These are guys are who I contemplate legends within the craft and so they’re all reaching out and loving what I am doing. They need to give me recommendation,” Rempe stated. “I need to study as a lot as I can. Taking all of their info. They’ve a lot expertise. They fought a lot extra again within the day.”

One in all them was Georges Laraque, who earned 1,126 penalty minutes whereas combating all through his 12-year profession. Laraque reached out to Rempe final season after watching the Rangers rookie’s first few fights. He invited him to return to his summer time hockey camp in Edmonton, the place Rempe spent round three days studying extra about his pugilistic craft.

“Yeah, it was nice. He confirmed me plenty of issues, little tips, little issues. Helped me with my attain extra. Defend myself higher. Simply bought higher at combating,” Rempe stated. “He is a man with a number of expertise and it was actually useful and he was superior. So I actually appreciated him taking the time for that.”

One factor they spoke about was Rempe choosing his spots higher as a fighter.

“When to combat by myself phrases. Not a lot the staged combating, however extra pure [fighting] if it occurs. Defending teammates, standing up for teammates, standing up for myself. At all times ensuring it advantages the group. That you simply’re doing it on the most advantageous time potential for you, so that you’re maximizing the worth of that combat for the group,” he stated.

However Rempe believes he can profit the Rangers in ways in which transcend combating. He stated the vast majority of his summer time was spent honing his hockey abilities slightly than combating prowess. He is been energy skating drills for the final 1½ months. He has labored with Rangers teammate and mentor Chris Kreider on facets of forechecking and puck safety.

“The combating is a really small half. I extremely prioritize the abilities, the skating and all the things. I’ve bought to turn out to be a greater participant, so that is what I’ve set to work on. I’ve loved it and I feel I’ve taken large strides this summer time,” he stated.

Rempe stated he hopes to get an opportunity to kill penalties for the Rangers, one thing he did every now and then in junior hockey.

In his 17 regular-season video games, Rempe scored a objective and an help. He scored one objective in 11 playoff video games for New York as properly. In these video games, Rempe solely performed greater than eight minutes on simply three events.

His objective this season: to earn an everyday function within the Rangers’ backside six forwards and stay of their lineup.

“Simply be exhausting to play in opposition to. Imply. Carry an edge. Have an excellent net-front presence. Make sure that the opposite group at all times is aware of that, hey, they will must take care of me each night time,” he stated.

After his notable first NHL season, Rempe expects he’ll get his share of consideration from different groups.

“I do not find out about being a goal, however I do know I’ve a presence,” he stated.