Matt Rempe admits desperation to secure roster spot with Rangers

Preseason hockey brings a unique brand of urgency for players fighting for their professional futures, and New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe has made no secret of his mindset heading into preparations. According to reporting from Newsday, the towering skater admitted to a heavy sense of desperation to secure his spot on the opening night roster as the team navigates evaluation matches ahead of the new campaign.

Rempe, age 24 according to Newsday, addressed his situation ahead of an opening preseason game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. Rempe stated his desperation when asked about the feeling, mentioning his time on the team over the previous couple of years, his love for the environment, and how missing time due to injury last year added to his eagerness to return. Rempe said, as reported by Newsday, that it had been a long time since his last game and that he wanted to be there badly.

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The urgency stems from a combination of missed time and intense internal competition. Rempe missed significant stretches of the previous year due to a thumb injury suffered during an early-season bout with former teammate Ryan Reaves, an ailment that ultimately required dual surgeries and limited his appearances to 26 games with one goal and 11 penalty minutes, according to Newsday. Returning to action in the preseason matchup against the Devils, the forward logged 15:19 of ice time with two shot attempts, three hits, and a blocked shot after teammate Adam Sykora exited early with a lower-body injury.

Head coach Mike Sullivan addressed the decision to insert the forward into the preseason lineup, noting that the player simply needed game repetitions after such an extended absence, as reported by Newsday. Sullivan stated that Rempe simply had not played in a while and needed to play games.

Sullivan acknowledged the distinct qualities the towering forward brings to the ice, describing him as a disruptive and unnerving presence who generates anxiety for opponents while fueling the forecheck and creating loose pucks. Sullivan noted that opponents take notice when the 6-foot-9, 268-pound forward is in the lineup. Yet, competition for the fourth-line right wing role remains fierce.

Jaroslav Chmelar has pushed hard for the same spot throughout training camp, showing strong form and goal-scoring ability during extended auditions last year. At 6-foot-5 and 238 pounds, Chmelar scored four goals in his 28 games for the Rangers last season, whereas Rempe has five goals in 85 career games across three seasons, according to Newsday. While Chmelar currently possesses the advantage of remaining on a rookie contract that allows the franchise to send him down to Hartford without clearing waivers, Rempe would require passing through waivers, a procedural hurdle that could influence how the organization manages its final roster decisions.

When asked if he had conversations with the coaching staff regarding expectations, Rempe noted he had not discussed it directly, stating to Newsday that he believes he knows what is expected of him and what his game is.

Beyond New York, other franchises are similarly fine-tuning their tactical structures ahead of the upcoming campaign. In Minnesota, the Wild have spent practice sessions at TRIA Rink revamping their penalty kill, a unit that stumbled significantly during the postseason despite ranking 16th in the 32-team league during the regular season with a 79.8 success rate, according to the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Coach John Hynes and veteran players like Blake Coleman emphasized a shift toward a more aggressive system to combat power-play pressures from opponents like the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, after the Wild's penalty kill went 15 for 38 during the playoffs.

Coach John Hynes noted of the tactical adjustment that the unit was a bit too passive at times and performed better when applying more pressure. Coleman added regarding the unit that it involves hard work, making reads, and balancing pressure without being overly passive.

Both teams continue to evaluate their personnel ahead of the official start of the season. For the Rangers, opening night approaches on Monday, 29 September 2026, setting a firm deadline for final roster decisions.