NEWARK -- Matt Rempe doesn’t have to guess how the preseason feels when you’re fighting for a spot. He knows exactly what that pressure looks like, and he says he can feel it.
“One hundred percent,’’ he said Monday, before the Rangers opened their 2026 preseason against the Devils in Prudential Center. “Being on the team last couple years, I love this.
I love it. Last year I was hurt, and wasn't really around at all.
And it's been a long time for me since my last game. All this [adds to] the sense of desperation I need.
I want to be here, bad.’’
For the Rangers, Monday’s lineup said plenty. Most of the regulars stayed out ahead of Tuesday’s game at the Garden against the Islanders, which made the group in Newark look a lot more like the Hartford Wolf Pack’s opening night roster than a typical Rangers preseason skate. The NHL’s preseason rules call for eight NHL/AHL veterans to be dressed for every game, but this was still a night that left Rempe as one of the few familiar names on the ice.
That matters because, at least on paper, he may be one of the few players in that lineup with a real shot to be in Boston when the season starts Sept. 29. Even so, coach Mike Sullivan pushed back on the idea that the Rangers were using Monday as some kind of message about Rempe’s standing.
“Remps just hasn't played, and that's one of the reasons why we're getting him in the lineup tonight,’’ Sullivan said. “He just hasn't played in while, and so he needs to play games.’’
That explanation fits, but the camp picture still has some intrigue. Through the first few days, Rempe appeared to be trailing 23-year-old Jaroslav Chmelar in the race for the fourth line right wing job. Chmelar wasn’t in Tuesday’s lineup, but he had been getting the bulk of the work alongside left wing Tye Kartye and center Joe Veleno, with Rempe sliding in for reps.
That battle is about more than size, though both players bring plenty of it. Rempe, who made his NHL debut in the Stadium Series game against the Islanders at MetLife Stadium in 2024, became a quick fan favorite when he fought Matt Martin on his first shift. At 6-9, 268 pounds, he gives the Rangers a bruising forechecking presence, the kind that can rattle opponents and change the tone of a game.
“Obviously he brings a dimension to our team, and he's very good at it,’’ Sullivan said. “He's an unnerving player.
He's a disruptive player. He's a guy that, when he's in your lineup, your opponents take notice.
And so, he has the ability to create that anxiety, and helping us [to be] better on the forecheck and, creating turnovers and loose pucks and building momentum for our team.’’
Last season, though, a thumb injury wiped out that momentum. Rempe suffered it in an early-season fight with ex-Ranger Ryan Reaves, then needed two surgeries before his year ended after just 26 games. He finished with one goal and 11 penalty minutes.
Chmelar made his case late in the season when he got a chance to audition for the same fourth-line role. At 6-5, 238, he is also a heavy forechecker, and he added a scoring touch that Rempe hasn’t matched yet. Chmelar scored four goals in 28 games for the Rangers last season, while Rempe has five goals in 85 career games across three seasons.
There’s also the roster wrinkle that could work in Rempe’s favor. He would have to clear waivers for the Rangers to send him to Hartford. Chmelar, still on his rookie contract, does not require waivers, which gives the team a different kind of flexibility if it wants to keep Rempe around and send Chmelar down instead.
Rempe said he hasn’t sat down with the coaches for a detailed conversation about what exactly he needs to do to lock up a spot. He also said he doesn’t need one.
“I think I know what's expected of me,’’ he said. “I know what my game is. I know what's I know what what's expected of me and what I’ve got to bring.’’
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Former Rangers First-Round Pick Just Had A Wild New Start
Brennan Othmanns first preseason appearance for Calgary barely lasted a couple of shifts, but it was enough to make an impression. The former Rangers first-round pick, traded to the Flames last March, got right into the action with a scoring chance and showed the kind of energy that can catch a coachs eye as he pushes for a spot on the opening-night roster.
The night also showed how quickly things can turn for a player trying to carve out a role. Othmanns aggressive play drew a major response and a game misconduct, leaving him with a stat line that was as eventful as it was brief, while Flames coach Ryan Huska still came away seeing a noticeable impact from the short stint on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rempe Has A Real Chance To Force The Rangers Hand
Matt Rempe is back in the picture for the Rangers at just the right time, cleared to dress for the preseason opener against the Devils after a thumb injury cost him the back half of last season. He has not played since February and is now fully healthy, giving him a chance to remind the coaching staff what he brings at a moment when roster spots are still up for grabs.
For Rempe, the assignment is straightforward: show he can help force the Rangers to make a harder decision. He is slated to work on the fourth line with Hartford center Carey Terrance and Jacob Battaglia, and every shift will matter as he tries to turn a healthy return into a serious push for a place in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Sullivan Faces An Early Rangers Decision That Could Shape Camp
The Rangers are heading into their 2026-27 preseason with a shorter runway than usual, and that alone makes every exhibition game feel a little more valuable. With only four games on the schedule because of the extended regular season, Mike Sullivan and his staff will have less time to sort through the lineup, which should naturally push more chances toward younger players and prospects as camp unfolds.
The clearest early question is in goal, where the group behind Igor Shesterkin is still taking shape. Dylan Garand and Joonas Korpisalo are both in the mix for preseason work, and with the new format shrinking the margin for evaluation, how the Rangers divide those looks could say plenty about where they see the depth chart headed once camp really gets going. [Read more 🡒]