Rangers forward Rempe back on IR, will need thumb surgery: report
Rangers forward Matt Rempe is set to undergo a second procedure on his left thumb and reportedly is heading back to injured reserve.
The report from Mollie Walker of the New York Post says there’s no date set for a possible return.
The 23-year-old was injured on Oct. 23 during a fight with ex-Rangers forward Ryan Reaves during a 6-5 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks at Madison Square Garden. He missed all of November and finally made it back in mid-December – when he revealed that he’d had surgery after breaking the thumb in “many places.”
But Rempe was a shell of the player who Rangers fans had come to love because of his go-for-it attitude and fistic skills. With the thumb not properly healed, Rempe couldn’t control his stick and was being outbattled for pucks by smaller players. Fighting was out of the question – doctors told him to refrain from fisticuffs.
Rempe had no points in 12 games before sitting down with coach Mike Sullivan after the Rangers’ 10-2 loss at Boston on Jan. 10 and working out a plan that kept him on the ice at practice but out of games for two-plus weeks. He returned to the lineup on Jan. 26 and played in the Rangers’ final five games before the Olympic break.
But he still has metal in his thumb from the surgery and lacks full mobility.
Rangers’ Matt Rempe reportedly headed to IR, needs surgery
Rempe began the season as right wing on the fourth line with Sam Carrick and Adam Edström. They were effective in eight games together, leading opponents 75-59 in shot attempts and collecting 55.37 percent of the expected goal share at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick. That included Rempe’s only point of the season, a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins, on Oct. 11.
The Rangers selected the 6-foot-9 forward in the sixth round (No. 165 overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. The Calgary native turned pro with AHL Hartford in 2022-23 and scrapped his way to the Rangers in February 2024, quickly becoming a fan favorite because of his physical play and willingness to fight.
He wasted no time showing NHL rivals that he was willing to drop the gloves. Rempe battled with Matt Martin of the New York Islanders during his NHL debut in front of 79,600 fans at Met Life Stadium during the Rangers’ 6-5 overtime win in their Stadium Series matchup on Feb. 18.
Rempe had one goal, one assist and 71 penalty minutes in 17 games after his recall. He might have had more but had to sit out a four-game suspension for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler. Rempe also got into 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games, scoring in his postseason debut against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on April 21, 2024.
He worked to earn a regular role in 2024-25, but he was suspended for eight games for boarding and elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen on Dec. 20, 2024. Rempe said after his return that he was taking better control of his actions in order to avoid undisciplined, reckless plays.
The improved self-discipline showed: Rempe was pointless before the suspension but had three goals and eight points in 37 games after his return while proving that he could be a physical player and not just a big guy who can fight.
Rempe scored in his third game of the season but hasn’t had a point since then. In 85 games during parts of three NHL seasons, he has 11 points (five goals, six assists) and 149 penalty minutes while averaging 7:58 TOI.
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