The New York Rangers will be looking to set up their roster for a turnaround season in 2025-26. The club has a veteran core complemented by young talent. One of the players who’s taken the team over by storm is Matt Rempe.
Rempe’s rough-and-tumble style has made him a favorite with Rangers fans. His pugilistic abilities have also earned him a reputation for being a mean customer on the ice.
However, his lack of discipline and overall playing skills have called his inclusion in the team’s lineup into question. Rempe consistently plays under 10 minutes a night and does not draw much beyond fourth-line filler minutes.
Additionally, Rempe’s short career with the Rangers has been marred by controversial plays and suspensions. He got an eight-game ban in December 2024 for a hit on Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen.
Those antics, and a lack of offensive or defensive abilities, could put the 23-year-old on track for the waiver wire at some point this upcoming season. The issue is that, if Rempe hits waivers, he would have to clear in order to head down to the AHL.
As such, would another team claim Rempe? That’s questionable. It doesn’t seem likely that other teams would want to take a shot on the former sixth-rounder from the 2020 NHL Draft. But then again, there might be a club willing to give him one more shot at the NHL. In which case, the Rangers would lose Rempe for nothing.
Rangers Gave Rempe Vote of Confidence this Offseason
Rempe ended his entry-level contract this summer. That situation prompted the Rangers to issue a qualifying offer worth $813K to retain his rights.
Then, the Rangers re-signed Rempe to a two-year, $1.95 million contract. While the deal is hardly onerous, it did raise some eyebrows. Some analysts questioned why the Rangers would re-sign a player with such a checkered track record.
Yet, the Rangers felt there was a redeeming quality to the hulking 6’9” forward. At 23, Rempe is still young enough to where he could develop into a legit bottom-six forward. Rempe has been seen working out during the summer on his skill set.
While Rempe seems committed to improving, there’s still a long way to go. But if he can get his game up to speed, there’s a good chance Rempe could find a permanent home in New York.
New York Could Have Short Leash on Rempe
The Rangers may have a short leash on Rempe this season. His defensive liabilities, lack of scoring, and indiscipline could put him in the spotlight for a demotion. There might even be a risk of a demotion out of training camp.
Rempe will be competing for a lineup spot with established forwards and younger players. Conor Sheary, who joined on a PTO, should give Rempe a run for his money. Similarly, Justin Dowling, Jusso Parssinen, Taylor Raddysh, and Adam Edstrom will all have the inside track on bottom-six roles.
That scenario means that Rempe could be out of luck. Perhaps the Rangers keep him around as a 13th forward. Given his cap hit, that’s a decent possibility. But then again, a young player like Rempe would need playing time.
Ultimately, the Rangers face a tricky decision with Matt Rempe. If he can find a solid identity on the team, the club could have found a diamond in the rough.
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