Matt Rempe’s path to a roster spot with the Rangers is pretty simple in theory and a lot harder in practice: stay healthy, keep the edge, and show he can do more than throw hits.
That’s the balancing act facing a player who remains a fan favorite even after less-than-stellar play. Rempe’s physical style and willingness to get into a tilt have made him popular with the fanbase, and his personality has only added to that through his charity work and social media presence. Still, his place on the 2026-27 Rangers is far from secure, and he’ll need a strong camp and preseason to prove he belongs.
Last season, Rempe appeared in 26 games and gave the Rangers some bottom-six muscle. He scored once, with that goal coming in the 6-1 win against the Penguins in October of last season.
He also piled up 86 hits, which worked out to just over three per game. Even so, he never locked down a permanent spot in the lineup, and a thumb injury after a fight with Ryan Reaves cost him time.
That injury is the first thing he has to put behind him this preseason. The Rangers need to see that his thumb is no longer an issue and that he’s ready to start fresh.
One of the clearest signs will be how he plays physically. When he was hurt last season, he backed off the style that made him stand out in the first place.
If he’s laying hits and not shying away from fights, that’s a strong sign he’s healthy.
Health alone won’t be enough, though. Rempe also has to show he’s improved as a skater and can contribute more offensively.
In today’s game, pure physicality doesn’t guarantee a roster spot. If a player can’t keep up or offer anything with the puck, he can drag down a line and make the whole lineup weaker.
He doesn’t need to turn into a point-a-game scorer. His role will still be centered on physical play and bringing that “goon” presence.
But around 15 points a season would go a long way, and the simplest route there is becoming a better passer and setting up teammates more often. That’s the cleanest way for him to make himself more useful to the Rangers.
In Other News...
Rangers May Be Headed For Another Trade-Driven Offseason
The Rangers already know next summer could be a tricky one if theyre hoping to swing big in free agency. Drake Bathersons new long-term deal with Ottawa is the latest reminder that the class is thinning fast, and a lot of the names that once looked like potential difference-makers are either gone, locked up or unlikely to move at all. For a team that wants to keep pushing its roster forward, the market is starting to look a lot less helpful than it did not long ago.
Mark Stone and Nikita Kucherov are part of the broader picture, too, with the pool of top-end talent looking more and more off-limits by the day. That leaves New York staring at a familiar possibility: if it wants a real star addition, the path may run through the trade market again. It is not the easiest route, but it may be the one with the most upside if the Rangers are determined to make a meaningful upgrade. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Reaves Said One Thing Rangers Fans Will Remember Most
Ryan Reaves is calling it a career after 16 seasons in the NHL, closing the book on a run that took him from a 2005 draft pick of the St. Louis Blues to one of the leagues most recognizable physical presences. The veteran winger logged 962 regular-season games across multiple stops, including time with the Golden Knights and the Rangers, and finished with 66 goals and 74 assists while carving out a reputation as an enforcer who never needed many shifts to make himself felt.
For Rangers fans, the lasting memory is likely to be less about the scoring numbers and more about the edge he brought every night. Reaves spent four seasons in New York after arriving before the 2021-22 campaign, and his game showed up in the parts of the ice where the Rangers needed pushback, energy and a little intimidation. Even as the league kept evolving, he reached the 900-game mark and stayed true to the role that defined him, which is part of why his retirement lands with real recognition from the fan base. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Just Put Dylan Garands NHL Opportunity Under Real Pressure
Dylan Garand looked like the next man up behind Igor Shesterkin after a promising late-season stretch last year, but the Rangers have complicated that path by adding another name to the mix. The club brought in veteran Joonas Korpisalo to compete for the backup job, giving New York a more experienced option in goal and signaling that the second spot is no longer Garands by default.
Coach Mike Sullivan has already highlighted the value of having both goaltenders in camp, pointing to the added depth at a position that can swing a season in a hurry. For Garand, the opportunity he seemed ready to seize is now under real pressure, and the way this battle unfolds could shape not just the Rangers goaltending depth chart but also how quickly the youngster can force his way into a more permanent role. [Read more 🡒]