Will Matt Rempe change his game following suspension?
I am fascinated by this story and his future in the NHL. Also concerned. Very, very concerned.
The New York Rangers are one of the best teams in hockey and have the type of roster that is fitting for a big-market contending team in New York City.
There is star power everywhere.
Artemi Panarin is having an MVP-caliber year and one of the best offensive seasons in franchise history. He is one of the rare, big-money free agents that has been worth every penny paid to him.
Adam Fox is a Norris Trophy winner and on the shortlist of best all-around defensemen in hockey. He is a stud that can impact the game in all three zones and in all three situations. If you counted the number of defensemen in the NHL clearly better than him you only need the fingers on one hand, and you’re going to have some left over.
Igor Shesterkin has continued their legacy of game-changing goalies that mask all of the flaws and try to single-handedly will flawed rosters as far as possible.
It is a pretty loaded — even if flawed — team and one that should have a good shot at making a serious run at the Stanley Cup.
But even with all of that star power there is a new face on Seventh Avenue that has become a lightning rod for praise, excitement, cheers, hate, criticism, controversy and just about everything in between.
Say hello to Matt Rempe, the Rangers’ 6-foot-7, face-punching center that has fought and checked his way through the first month of his NHL career with a shocking reckless abandon.
He has played 50 minutes of hockey at the NHL level and has already built a cult following in New York and among fighting enthusiasts across the league, while also drawing the ire of opposing fans. Not only for his sideshow fighting act, but also for a couple of controversial hits, the latter of which recently earned him a four-game suspension.
With that suspension over and Rempe set to return on Tuesday night against the Winnipeg Jets I can not help but ponder a few questions.
Specifically: will he get the message that the NHL tried to impose with his four-game ban, will he adjust his game in any way, and what exactly is his future in the NHL?
Let’s start with the suspension, just because that’s the most recent event.
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