Rangers frustrated with calls against Matt Rempe: ‘He’s not really doing anything’
Matt Rempe is impossible to miss out on the ice. The New York Rangers forward stands 6-foot-9 and is not exactly a wallflower when he’s out there.
But is Rempe being targeted unfairly by officials, penalizing him because of his size and/or reputation, considering his two lengthy suspensions — one last season, one earlier this season?
Respected New York Post hockey columnist Larry Brooks raised the heat on the topic with a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
The latest example occurred in New York’s thrilling 3-2 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. Rempe was assessed a two-minute minor for interfering with Minnesota forward Devin Shore at 1:55 of the second period. But a closer look shows that Shore skated into Rempe and fell down as the Rangers forward focused on the play ahead of him.
In fact, Rempe looked to his left to see where Minnesota’s Zach Bogosian was immediately before Shore crashed into him from his right. Because Rempe is so big, Shore is the one who ended up on the ice and up went the arm of the official.
Rempe was furious with the call, even more so after the Wild scored exactly two minutes later, when Marcus Johansson wired a snap shot past Igor Shesterkin to tie the score 1-1.
The towering forward told reports after practice Friday that the referee apologized to him in the third period for the call, saying that it was a mistake on his part.
“I’m a polarizing figure, per se, with that stuff, and I guess that stuff happens,” Rempe said. “Just try to keep working on my game because I think it’s coming along nicely.”
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette was measured with his postgame commentary but clearly frustrated with this call and other recent ones against Rempe.
“I think he draws attention, just the size of him and how he plays the game,” Laviolette said. “It’s unfortunate because sometimes, like tonight, he’s really not doing anything, and he’s in the [penalty] box.”
Unprompted when speaking on a different overall topic postgame, Rangers forward Will Cuylle clearly was irritated with the call against his 23-year-old teammate, too.
“Some tough calls against us, but I thought we stuck with it and it’s great to come out with two points,” he said.
So, are the Rangers addressing their concerns with the NHL? Laviolette spoke to that topic Friday after an optional practice in Columbus.
“There’s always conversations that go on,” he told reporters. “Game happens fast out there. But with regard to Matt, we’re just trying to get him the benefit of the doubt once in a while.”
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In a tight game, Laviolette didn’t play his fourth line much as it progressed, so Rempe logged just nine shifts and 7:14 TOI against the Wild. But he did pick up an assist on Jonny Brodzinski’s go-ahead goal that made it 2-1 at 6:38 of the second period. Heading off the ice for a line change, Rempe made a short touch pass to Zac Jones, who was flying through the neutral zone, on his way to setting up the Brodzinski goal.
Braden Schneider’s goal 1:51 into overtime sealed an important win and two points for the Rangers and, perhaps, muted the anger of the Rempe penalty.
Such was not the case Tuesday in a 2-1 road loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Rempe was penalized two minutes for goalie interference at 3:11 of the second period after being shoved into Connor Hellebuyck by Jets forward Morgan Barron. This ended up being a more costly penalty call.
Winnipeg’s Gabe Vilardi scored a power-play goal at 5:06 to put the Jets up 2-1. That turned out to be the game-winning goal.
“I didn’t agree with the call,” Laviolette said after that game. “They’re saying they want to protect the goaltenders, but I don’t know. I just didn’t agree with it.”
Rempe has been more responsible with his hits since returning from an eight-game suspension for elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen on Dec. 20. The coaching staff has worked with him for two seasons to keep his elbows in and be aware that he’s much taller than most opponents, so when he delivers a check, it’s often up high.
He’s responded by turning into a solid fourth-line player, effective on the forecheck and capable of generating scoring chances, as well as protecting his teammates. Rempe has five points (two goals, three assists) and 52 penalty minutes in 31 games this season. A year ago in his first NHL action — which included a five-game suspension for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler — Rempe had a goal and an assist to go along with 71 penalty minutes in 17 games.
Both Rempe and the officials will next be under the microscope Saturday when the Rangers visit the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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