Matt Rempe was recently sent down to the AHL by the New York Rangers, but upon his return, he responded positively to the demotion, contrary to the expectation of frustration and anger from many.
The New York Rangers have been one of the NHL’s top teams in the 2024/25 season, yet they’ve experimented with various combinations in their bottom six. This led to Rempe’s AHL assignment; after making a strong impression in the NHL last season, the team determined that the 22-year-old needed further development in the AHL.
Just a few days later, however, Rempe was recalled to the Rangers as the team aimed to maintain their impressive 6-1-1 record through the first eight games of the season. While many thought he would be disappointed by the demotion, Rempe shared on Monday that he welcomed the experience and enjoyed the two games he played with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
“Yeah, for sure,” said Rempe, wearing No. 73. “I got to play 17 or 18 minutes in the last two games, took on the center role, and experienced all situations. It was beneficial for me… I hadn’t played a lot of minutes in a while, so getting those game scenarios, handling the puck, and playing more than just physically felt great.”
While it’s unlikely that Rempe will see top-six minutes in the NHL, his time in the AHL has allowed him to return to the fundamentals of hockey instead of just focusing on fighting. If he continues to develop a more versatile game, he could become an important part of the Rangers’ bottom six for years ahead.
