LATEST REPORT: Rangers’ Star Player Responds After 10-Player Melee With Devils

The adage goes that when you engage with trouble, you’re likely to suffer consequences. However, for New York Rangers’ newcomer Matt Rempe, his recent experience with the Devils proved this notion wrong.

According to Vincent Z. Mercogliano of the USA TODAY Network, Rempe entered the Rangers’ locker room at their practice facility on Thursday morning, still buzzing from the intense altercation the previous night against the New Jersey Devils. Instead of lamenting or nursing wounds, he greeted his teammates with a grin and remarked, “That was a banger.”

Contrary to what one might assume, Rempe wasn’t referring to the Rangers’ narrow 4-3 victory over the Devils. Rather, he was alluding to the heated line brawl that erupted right after the initial face-off.

Rempe had a longstanding feud with Devils’ winger Kurtis MacDermid, a fact well-documented over the preceding weeks. Thus, when both teams deployed their fourth lines for the opening face-off, Rempe anticipated a confrontation with the seasoned enforcer. However, what unfolded next caught nearly everyone by surprise—four other skirmishes broke out simultaneously, turning the event into a rallying point for Rempe and his Rangers comrades.

Reflecting on the incident the next day, Rempe shared with Mercogliano, “Those guys are my brothers… It wasn’t planned or anything. It just kind of happened naturally. I think that was really special that they did that, as well. I knew that I was going to have to fight. It’s not a big deal − answer the bell type of thing. It happens, but for them to go to war with me was pretty dang special… I love all those guys.”

The Rempe-MacDermid Tussle Had Been Brewing for Weeks

The animosity between Rempe and MacDermid originated from their previous encounter at Madison Square Garden on March 11. During that game, Rempe declined MacDermid’s invitation to fight early on, in response to a hit on Nathan Bastian. This hit by Rempe had resulted in a match penalty during their previous matchup on February 22.

Despite not being with the Devils when Rempe made the hit on Bastian, MacDermid, who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on March 1, felt compelled to uphold the unwritten rules of hockey and ensure that Rempe faced consequences for his actions. MacDermid had missed the Devils’ last four games before the showdown with the Rangers, and upon his return to the lineup against New York, he made it his mission to settle the score with Rempe once and for all.

Recalling the confrontation, Rempe recounted, “MacDermid was like, ‘We’re going right now.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I know. I think there’s a reason why we’re starting.’ … It was intense.”

While the other fights ended swiftly, Rempe and MacDermid engaged in a prolonged bout, exchanging blows for nearly 90 seconds.

“That was a lengthy fight,” Rempe remarked. “He’s a formidable opponent. That guy is a big, strong player, known for his toughness in the league for a long time, and he’s just doing his job. You have to respect that.”

After the game, MacDermid expressed his admiration for Rempe, describing him as “a young kid trying to find his place in the league.”

Rempe & His Rangers Teammates Were Not Anticipating Ejection

According to NHL Rule 46.7, “A game misconduct penalty is to be assessed on any player who receives a major penalty for fighting after the initial altercation has commenced.”

In this case, it was determined that Rangers winger Jimmy Vesey and Devils center Curtis Lazar were the first to engage in a fight, leading to automatic ejections for the other eight players involved, including Rempe and MacDermid. This outcome came as a surprise to Rempe, who had anticipated serving only a five-minute fighting major.

“I thought I was going to have a good five minutes in the penalty box with the guys,” Rempe remarked. “We were going to be huddled up in there, having a good time. But then we get in there, and they’re like, ‘You’re gone.’ I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I had no idea that was a rule. I was like, ‘Dang it. My time on ice didn’t go up that game.'”

Despite being bloodied from the altercation, Rempe found himself exhilarated by the experience. Alongside his ejected teammates, he headed to the locker room.

“I was jumping around, running around, doing flips,” Rempe shared with Mercogliano. “You’re seeing all the comments on social media. They were funny. I was reading them out loud to the guys, and they were laughing. It was cool.”

Rempe Claims He Doesn’t Want to Be ‘a Guy Who Just Fights’

At 21 years old, Rempe soared to fame when he engaged in his first fight during his Rangers debut at the NHL Stadium Series in New Jersey. Standing tall at 6 feet 7 inches and weighing 240 pounds, the winger has earned a reputation for his willingness to throw punches. In his initial seven games, he faced off against renowned NHL enforcers such as Matt Martin, Nicolas Deslauriers, Mathieu Olivier, and Ryan Reaves, accumulating 69 penalty minutes in his 14-game NHL career. Yet, Rempe harbors ambitions beyond merely being an enforcer.

“I aim to demonstrate to the coaching staff that I can be a highly effective player in the playoffs,” Rempe expressed. “I need to persistently work on my game every day. Even when I’m out of the lineup, I collaborate with the coaches on all aspects, striving for improvement.”

Nevertheless, Rempe’s frequent altercations have hindered him from achieving the impact he desires. Having been ejected from three games in just 14 appearances, he averages a little over 5 minutes of ice time per game. As the Rangers embark on their third consecutive journey to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Rempe is determined to redefine his image.

Matt Rempe was ready to cuddle with the fellas in the penalty box before getting tossed ☠️

(h/t @vzmercogliano) pic.twitter.com/oXdRBDn4Vb

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 4, 2024

“I aspire to be a well-rounded player,” Rempe asserted. “I don’t want to be solely recognized as a fighter. I aim to be acknowledged as a tough player who also possesses the ability to excel as a bottom-six forward. I want to contribute through skating, proficient checking, physicality, strong defense, and perhaps even as a penalty killer in the future. That’s the player I aim to become.”