Matt Rempe already showing level head after opening-night Rangers scratch

The self-awareness Matt Rempe has had to have since capturing the NHL spotlight last season is noteworthy. 

Everyone has an opinion on this gigantic Rangers rookie, his style of play and his place in the greatest hockey league in the world.

Every word he says is amplified to the masses.

Each play Big No. 73 makes and each hit he lands is overanalyzed and questioned. 

The introspection Rempe offered while discussing his season-opening scratch on Wednesday in Pittsburgh only reaffirmed the 22-year-old’s level head. 

“You always want to play, but I think that I was happy to make the team,” Rempe said Friday before he was projected to make his season debut in the Rangers’ home-opener against Utah Saturday night. “That was the goal going into camp. I just take it as a day to get better. Just get good skills work in that day you aren’t playing, watch the game, learn, watch your position — that type of stuff. 

“Obviously, you want to play every game, but I’m 22 – a lot to learn, a lot to learn. A lot of time to improve. It’s alright.”

Rempe had a solid training camp, during which he was able to show how much he improved his skating and control.

Comparatively speaking, however, the Calgary native’s overall performance trailed his peers like Adam Edstrom, Victor Mancini and Brett Berard. 

Peter Laviolette opted to go with Jonny Brodzinski over Rempe in the first game of the season against the Penguins, putting the veteran wing on the right of Edstrom and Sam Carrick. 

The second-year Rangers coach had said his composition of the fourth line was more about the elements each player brings, but could also change depending on opponents and what the team needs at that particular time. 

Using Brodzinski over Rempe gives the fourth unit a scoring touch, while the inverse provides more of a physical look.

Having bounced in and out of the lineup for much of his time with the Rangers last season, Rempe knows what to expect. 

“Realistically, I’m in the same position,” said Rempe, who added that he wanted to improve his wall work and the defensive side of his game. “I’m the youngest guy, again. I’m 22. I’m still super young. I just think that inside of my role, a lot of guys are coming in and out like that. I learned from it last year. When you’re playing lower minutes, I learned how to play within your game like that, and [when you’re] coming in and out, how to stay ready. 

“I’ve done it before. When I was younger in my career, as well, like in Junior and stuff when I was 16. It’s all good learning stuff and I know how to handle it.”

With Jimmy Vesey on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury, the fourth line could start the season on a rotation.

Laviolette may want to tailor the unit to the Rangers opponent on a game-to-game basis, while also evaluating each different trio for long-term purposes. 

Inserting Rempe into the lineup for the home-opener is sure to inject adrenaline into Madison Square Garden. 

Perhaps that’s part of the reason why Rempe is making his season debut in Game 2. 

“It’s not going to make the decision,” Laviolette said. “But I do think that there’s an impact in the game from the juice that could bring into the building.”