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Greg Wyshynski, ESPNSep 4, 2024, 02:37 PM ET
CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
ARLINGTON, Va. — Matt Rempe wants to be a smarter fighter and a better hockey player as he enters his first full NHL season with the New York Rangers.
The 6-foot-9 forward was a sensation last season, amassing 71 penalty minutes in 17 regular-season games through a series of energetic fights. Rangers fans would chant his name even when he wasn’t on the ice.
“It seems like a dream. They’re the best fans in the world. You want to go to battle for them every single time,” said Rempe, speaking at the NHLPA rookie showcase on Wednesday. “It’s a surreal experience. You feel like you’re almost floating.”
Some felt Rempe dropped the gloves too often in his first season. Rempe disagrees.
“No, not at all. You’ve got to think that I’m 21 years old in the NHL and I have legends like [Matt] Martin and [Nicolas] Deslauriers, all those guys who want to fight. I’m in no position to say ‘no’ there. I think that they’re giving me an opportunity, and I 100 percent want to do that,” he said.
The Rangers’ Matt Rempe earned 71 penalty minutes in 17 regular-season games last season. Getty Images
Rempe noted that as the season wore on, he fought less. He only had one fight in his last seven regular-season games and didn’t fight in 11 playoff games for the Rangers — including when Capitals forward Tom Wilson asked him to go during their first-round series.
“In that scenario, we’re up 2-0 in the series and we’re up in that game, in Washington’s barn. There’s no benefit for me taking that fight,” he said. “I think that’s just trying to grow and be smarter. I’m having an effect. I was being very physical that game. I was having an impact without fighting.”
Could he say “no” more often in his second NHL season?
“But I really enjoy it. That’s the thing as well,” said Rempe, with a laugh. “I don’t know. I want to be a hockey player but it’s part of the game. It’s a nice tool to have.”
While the fans buzzed…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/41123202/rangers-matt-rempe-learning-fight-my-own-terms
Author : Greg Wyshynski
Publish date : 2024-09-04 19:54:15
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