After electrifying the NHL last season with his fights and physical play, Matt Rempe is returning to the AHL.
Thursday night, the New York Rangers announced they were assigning the 6-foot-9, rugged forward back to the Hartford Wolf Pack after the winger only suited up in two of seven games and received 5:39 of ice time per night.
UPDATE: Matt Rempe has been assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) October 25, 2024
Rempe played 43 games for Hartford last season before earning a permanent call-up to the NHL on February 10. Rempe suited up in 17 games for the Rangers, scoring a goal and notching an assist while posting 71 penalty minutes. He received 5:38 of ice time per night in 2023-24.
New York then deployed Rempe in the 2024 postseason, where he was involved in several controversial plays, particularly in the team’s first-round series against the Washington Capitals. During the four-game set, Rempe injured Trevor van Riemsdyk and TJ Oshie with hits and declined an invitation to fight from Tom Wilson.
With Rempe ineligible for waivers and outplayed by Adam Edstrom and Jonny Brodzinski to start this season, the Rangers’ sending him down to Hartford makes sense so that he can continue to evolve his game and get playing time. New York is also soon expected to activate Jimmy Vesey off of LTIR and needs an open roster spot to do so.
The #NYR have assigned Matt Rempe to AHL Hartford, where it's hoped he can benefit from more playing time. Expectation is he'll make his way back to the NHL down the road.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 25, 2024
The Rangers are 5-1-1 (11 standings points) to start the season and are tied for first in the Metropolitan Division with the New Jersey Devils.
