{"id":555407,"date":"2026-04-18T17:30:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T17:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/555407\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T17:30:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T17:30:29","slug":"towering-rangers-forward-plans-to-come-back-with-vengeance-after-lost-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/555407\/","title":{"rendered":"Towering Rangers forward plans to \u2018come back with vengeance\u2019 after lost season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Matt Rempe\u2019s<\/a> demeanor off the ice typically is upbeat, featuring a boyish charm that endeared him to New York Rangers<\/a> fans since he burst on to the NHL scene back in 2024. But at Rangers<\/a> breakup day on Friday, Rempe appeared subdued and serious, discussing his frustrating season marred by one significant injury and a pair of surgeries.<\/p>\n

The hulking six-foot-nine forward played 26 games this season, though really was only healthy for the first nine. He scored one goal and was limited after returning from October thumb surgery. He finally was shut down for good following a second surgery on his thumb in February.<\/p>\n

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\u201cBeing hurt since October, obviously very disappointing for myself,\u201d Rempe told reporters<\/a>. \u201cI think I started the year well, then I missed 60 games because I\u2019m hurt and have two surgeries, and when I came back, that wasn\u2019t me at all because I needed another surgery to get done. So, that was a frustrating period there. That wasn\u2019t me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t expect this lost season to keep Rempe down, though.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got a lot of hunger for next year,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m sure I\u2019ll come back with vengeance.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the same approach Rempe displayed last summer, when challenged by the Rangers hierarchy to become a more complete and disciplined NHL player. He met the challenge and quickly earned the trust of first-year coach Mike Sullivan during training camp.<\/p>\n

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That carried into the start of the 2025-26 season, when Rempe teamed with Sam Carrick<\/a> and Adam Edstrom<\/a> to turn New York\u2019s fourth line into an identity line. They played a hard, fast north-south game, ferocious on the forecheck, and committed defensively in the neutral zone and in their own end of the ice.<\/p>\n

Rempe continued to be an intimidating presence and threat, but didn\u2019t needlessly drop the gloves as he\u2019d done in his first two season. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so ironic that his first \u2014 and only \u2014 fight of the season submarined everything for the popular 23-year-old.<\/p>\n

He tore up his thumb in that bout with San Jose Sharks<\/a> enforcer Ryan Reaves<\/a> on Oct. 23, had the first surgery, and returned to the Rangers lineup two months later on Dec. 15. Though he played 17 of the next 24 games, Rempe wasn\u2019t, well, Rempe. Unable to grip his stick, not allowed to tangle with opponents, much less drop the gloves and fight, Rempe wasn\u2019t helping himself nor his team by being in the lineup.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe toughest moment is when I came back, and I can\u2019t play my game,\u201d Rempe explained. \u201cI just felt like I was not good. I was just, like, skating around and couldn\u2019t do my stuff. That was tough because I want to go out there and be good every night, play physical, and play my game. And when you\u2019re not able to do that it\u2019s like, I was really down. That was a tough month for me there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matt Rempe confident after second thumb surgery he\u2019s \u2018able to play my game\u2019 for Rangers\"NHL:<\/p>\n

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The second surgery ended Rempe\u2019s season. But it also corrected the issue inside his thumb. Rempe said he can grip a stick now and feels \u201cvery confident\u201d about the thumb healing and no longer holding him back.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s coming along a lot better than the first [surgery],\u201d Rempe shared. \u201cAfter the second surgery, it\u2019s coming along really well \u2026 and now I\u2019m confident I\u2019ll be able to play my game.\u201d<\/p>\n

A lot happened with Rempe sidelined for nearly 60 games this season. The Rangers finished last in the Eastern Conference and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season. The original fourth line completely was undone and reimagined in his absence. Edstrom missed plenty of time following ankle surgery; and the Rangers dealt Carrick to the Buffalo Sabres<\/a> ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline.<\/p>\n

And when the Rangers played some spirited hockey down the stretch, winning six of their final 10 games, it was a trio of rookies turbo-charging things on the fourth line. So, it\u2019s safe to say Rempe faces stiff competition for a spot in the lineup next season, what with the positive impression made by Adam Sykora<\/a>, Jaroslav Chmelar<\/a>, and even Noah Laba<\/a>, who started the season the third line.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of great young players now, and I know them all from playing in Hartford (of the American Hockey League). We\u2019ve all kind of grown up together,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s great. Competition\u2019s awesome. You want competition. You want to earn your spot.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAll great players, great guys. I\u2019m going to come to camp and earn it \u2026 that\u2019s my plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

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