Matt Rempe hit the New York hockey scene last season and turned into the puck version of Jeremy Lin, or “Lin-sanity” as it was at Madison Square Garden.
Each time Rempe hit the ice, the Garden crowd was instantaneously buzzing, nearly drooling, hoping for the next Rempe moment — a fight, a hit, or even an almost-hit!
The MSG fans loved every bit of Rempe-mania, and it’s fair to say that the lower bowl on the Ranger end of the ice showed up uncharacteristically early to watch No. 73 in warm-ups.
And when the camera isolated on the one-knee-on-the-ice Rempe via Garden-vision, the place would go wild, and the ever-aware youngster would smile ear to ear as he looked up at the big screen at center ice.
His debut was nothing short of legendary, going toe-to-toe with one of the NHL’s good-guy/tough-guys — New York Islanders forward Matt Martin, in front of 70,000-plus fans at MetLife stadium.
Rempe went on to fight and hit throughout his debut season and postseason, sometimes with reckless abandon.
And through a series of face-thumpings and Peter Laviolette benchings, No. 73 learned to be more selective when to drop the mitts (which seemed like every game early on) after taking a few too many rights from Columbus Blue Jackets slugger Mathieu Olivier.
© Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
Then there was the back-and-forth with Devils Kurtis MacDermid, culminating in an old-school line brawl at MSG that was hard to believe.
But the optimism about Rempe-mania — and it certainly was fun to cover and watch in real-time — has a realistic side as well.
With all the good times, smiles, and hoopla he stirred on Broadway — fights, hits, and goals included — one can’t overlook his shortcomings. At the end of the day, this is the NHL.
Seeing Rempe play many of his NHL games live in person, my Rempe summer improvement wish list included SKATING (in several ways), shooting, receiving passes, and adjusting (which he sometimes looks awkward doing).
Skating would top my list because the freight-train is downright scary in stature alone. With a head of steam, he is a nightmare.
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But things go downhill when skating comes into play — Rempe misses as many checks as he lands because of poor lateral skating ability. His opponent often has pivoted or tip-toed away from a telegraphed oncoming Rempe (elbows included, MacDermid excluded).
Working with a power-skating guru like Laura Stamm made all the difference in the world for so many former NHLers, including the Islanders Bobby Nystrom. Stamm and her power-skating methods turned a likable, golden-haired kid into a bona fide New York superstar who scored the Isles first Stanley Cup winner in overtime, no less.
A pairing of Rempe with today’s version of Stamm and her power skating skills could produce a menacing monster no defenseman ever wants to see or feel bearing down on him.
In short, Matt Rempe does have the potential to be a successful power forward in the NHL (the fourth-line variety) — IF his skating improves. He certainly has the likeability working on his side! His teammates clearly love him.
But while skating was tops in my book of items to work on over the summer, No. 73 instead went a different direction, north of the border, to work on his fight game.
Rempe went the Georges Laraque route — learning to hone his pugilistic skills.
I’m training Matt Rempe and Tyrel Bauer for hockey fighting, this week in Edmonton, at the Silent Ice arena. If you thought Rempe was a problem this year in the @NHL, wait till you see him this coming season… 🔥🔥
J’entraîne Matt Rempe et Tyrel Bauer aux combats de hockey,… pic.twitter.com/Y0zjWNTJjl
— Georges Laraque (@GeorgesLaraque) July 8, 2024
While improving fighting will lend the Blueshirts some extra jolt by winning a few more bouts, his skating is the key to making Rempe matter.
After all, in the playoffs, Rempe didn’t fight — and was mostly skating behind the play, leaving him to chase often — and try and hit when he could. He averaged only 6:07 of ice time and clearly looked stiff and out of place in a higher-paced postseason.
So, while improving fighting might be a good idea — judging from Rempe’s black, blue, and yellow midseason face — a scarier Rempe would emerge if he enlisted in power skating lessons as well.
© Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
But until proven differently, Rempe will remain a fighter alone, leaving some teams like the New York Islanders, who are currently without a rostered brawler, in a bit of a pickle — unless they choose not to tango.
Then again, the Devils didn’t have a choice (in their opinion) after Rempe nailed MacDermid with a flying elbow.
Related: Islanders Matt Martin Passes The Tough-Guy Torch To Rangers Matt Rempe
So, how do the Metro folks like the Islanders play this out?
Judging from the most recent seasons — and Islanders injuries, I expect that Islander favorite Matt Martin will be nearby and inked when necessary — including when the Isles face the Rangers and the improved Matt Rempe.
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