The New York Rangers may have a chance to turn an unused forward into draft capital, and the timing is awkwardly fitting with the Edmonton Oilers coming to town Sunday.
The Rangers are still riding the pause after dropping their third straight and fifth in their last six, and they’ll be looking to shake off that stretch when they return against Edmonton. New York has been strong at home, and the goal will be to pick up its seventh win of the young season at MSG. But before the puck even drops, there’s already buzz around a possible link between these two teams.
A recent report suggested the Oilers could be eyeing Matt Rempe, and the idea makes some sense on paper. Edmonton has two fifth-round picks, including one acquired from the Boston Bruins, and parting with one of them would be a reasonable way to address a need for more toughness. Rempe would fit that role as a deterrent around Connor McDavid, giving the Oilers a big body who could make opponents think twice about taking liberties with their star.
For the Rangers, Rempe’s situation has been difficult to ignore. Through 14 games this season, the 24-year-old has played in just two and has averaged under seven minutes when he’s been in the lineup. New York has shuffled its lines, and the fourth line has clearly not been locked in, but Rempe’s limited usage says plenty about where he stands.
He remains one of the biggest players in the league and can be a force physically, which would appeal to Edmonton if it wants more grit. At the same time, questions remain about the rest of his game, and with the Rangers not seeming to have a place for him, a trade would make sense for both sides.
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Rangers Fans Will Notice One Frustrating Thing About Sullivans New Lines
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The defensive side, meanwhile, stayed exactly where it was, with Vlad Gavrikov and Adam Fox together, Marcus Pettersson with Sean Durzi, and Alberts Smits alongside Braden Schneider. Eeli Tolvanen was absent for personal reasons, but the bigger takeaway for Rangers fans is the shuffle among the forwards, especially the move that pushed Gabe Perreault down the lineup and left another familiar piece in place elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]