After struggling to break into the lineup, the New York Rangers chose to send teenage enforcer to the AHL for game time.
On Thursday night (October 24th), the New York Rangers demoted teenage enforcer Matt Rempe to the AHL. This move followed the team’s 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.
Rempe has failed to get into games this season. Only two of the Rangers’ seven games so far have featured the 22-year-old. Rempe was unable to register a single point due to time constraints.
What’s more remarkable is that he did not receive any penalty minutes. Since entering the NHL, he has established himself as a true enforcer, frequently getting involved in scraps with other players. The 6-foot-9 fighter won 17 battles, including ones against Matt Martin, Nic Deslauriers, and Ryan Reaves. All of this resulted in him receiving 71 penalty minutes.
The Rangers have assigned Matt Rempe to the AHL's Hartford Wolfpack 👀 pic.twitter.com/gRQCsvdduQ
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 25, 2024
Rempe will now play for the Rangers’ affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. Rempe has 22 points (14 goals and 8 assists) in 96 minor league games, as well as 186 penalty minutes. According to TSN’s Insider Chris Johnston, the exception is that he (Rempe) will eventually return to the NHL.
Ryan Reaves admits he came close to rematch with Matt Rempe during Maple Leafs-Rangers game
Last season, when the Toronto Maple Leafs played the New York Rangers, all eyes were on Ryan Reaves and Matt Rempe. The two enforcers, known for their fighting abilities, shed their gloves and exchanged blows.
Fans expected a rematch when the Maple Leafs faced the New York Rangers last Saturday night. They did not fight this time, though. Reaves has now revealed that he was close to a rematch with the teenager. According to TSN’s Mark Masters, Reaves issued a warning to Rempe during warmups.
I told him, ‘If you go out and accomplish something,’ I’d give him one, and he dug his own. That was it; there wasn’t much going on.
Ryan Reaves stated about Matt Rempe, according to Mark Masters.
Ryan Reaves on if he came close to a rematch with Matt Rempe on Saturday:
"I told him, 'If you go out and do something,' I would give him one. & he buried his own player. That was about it, so not much going on."
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 24, 2024
Many people have been astonished that Reaves has yet to fight anyone this season. His decision not to participate in fights has raised some concerns in the hockey community.
The Rangers and Maple Leafs will now play each other in March 2025. With Rempe down in the AHL (he could be back by this time) and Reaves unwilling to fight anyone, fans will have to wait a bit longer to see round two between these two enforcers.
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