Matt Rempe took the NHL by storm, but the 6-foot-8 ½ forward has had to watch the Rangers brave the Hurricanes without him.
Serving as a healthy scratch the last two games, before he was reinserted into the Rangers lineup for Game 5 Monday night at Madison Square Garden, Rempe had still been soaking up every bit of his first NHL playoff experience.
The positive attitude that has radiated from the 21-year-old rookie has not worn off, even though he’s been relegated to the press box after getting his first real taste of consistent game reps.
Rempe has been focused on getting the most out of practice and learning from the general experience, which has been made easier by the communication with Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette.
“I can’t say enough good things about Lavi and how great he’s been to me,” Rempe said after the Rangers’ morning skate Monday. “The opportunities he’s given me and how much communication he’s had with me every single day. Like, I love him. I’d go to war for him every day. He’s the best.
“Conversations have been great, just telling me, ‘Don’t read into it. Don’t think too much and stuff like that, just keep working.’ ”
It became clear after the Rangers’ double-overtime victory in Game 2 that Rempe, and the way Laviolette is comfortable using him, does not bode well for the team’s competitive edge against Carolina.
Rempe, who is currently averaging 5:38 of ice time per game, got fewer and fewer shifts in the third period as the Capitals series went on before he received zero in the final frame of Game 4.
After playing one shift in the third in Game 1 of the second-round series against the Canes, and then only getting 4:03 of ice time in Game 2, Rempe did not see the ice in the final frame of either overtime.
Laviolette usually cuts down his bench in tight games anyway, but there was clearly a need for more personnel flexibility.
There is also something to be said about the way Rempe is officiated, a by-product of his 71 penalty minutes, three ejections and four-game suspension within his first 17 regular-season games.
Refs clearly have eyes on him at all times.
He was penalized in three of the four games against Washington and then again in Game 1 against Carolina. Some of the calls were certainly questionable and/or in response to his massive size.
“If they are, it is what it is,” Rempe said. “I don’t really care. They’re doing their job. The way I play, refs should be looking at me, if I’m being honest. Obviously, you want to stay out of the box, that’s a big thing, I don’t want to take penalties or hurt the team or anything, but I’m not going to complain about the refs at all.”
The learning curve in the NHL is unique for everyone, but Rempe has had to work through factors that most don’t.
And yet, the Canadian forward has embraced it. Rempe does not see his usage and limited ice time as a hindrance, but an NHL opportunity to make the most of regardless.
“I’ve been used to my minutes,” Rempe said. “I think I’ve been pretty consistent here. … If I haven’t had a shift in a while, all the more reason to try to make an impact on your shift. I get my minutes and I got to make the most of those minutes. I’m super happy to get those minutes. It’s an honor. When I do that, I know my game, I know what I’m going to do. And it’s not like if I was playing more, I’m not going to take a shift off. I’m going to go do everything I can every single shift I get.”