New York Rangers’ Matt Rempe can’t say no to a fight – and fans love it

New York Rangers rookie and tough guy Matt Rempe has taken the league by storm throughout his first five games, recording four fights and scoring his first NHL goal. The 21-year-old has become a fan favourite in the Rangers lineup. Today on Daily Faceoff Live, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss the impact Rempe has been having and his whirlwind week. 

Tyler Yaremchuk: Let’s talk about a remarkable run by Rangers forward ragin Matt Rempe. He just can’t be stopped and what was the nickname you gave him? 

Frank Seravalli: The Rempire State Building.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Top tier nickname. It’s like “Lin Sanity” except he is fighting and not shooting threes. New York is in love with this guy, he’s become a fan favourite. We are five games into his career and his penalty minutes are higher than his total time on the ice but hey he’s also got a goal as well. He’s finding a way to get it done. He fought Deslauriers over the weekend, he fought Mathieu Olivier of the Blue Jackets. I love it, I love the story to this point. I also think maybe there comes a point when Peter Laviolette or someone in the Rangers’ room goes “Hey you don’t have to fight everybody who asks you.” 

Frank Seravalli: That was one of the really interesting things about looking back on the game against the Blue Jackets. Olivier was the guy trying to pump up the Blue Jackets and when he asked Rempe to fight apparently before the game according to Aaron Portzline and everyone has seen the splash Rempe has made by running over everyone in the stadium series game, handling himself against the Devils, then Deslauriers fought him and he even told Rempe “You don’t need to fight me” but he said “no I’m fine” and then they had a good scrap.

Frank Seravalli: But I’m with you, I think there comes a certain point when someone probably needs to quiet him down but I get it from his perspective, he’s trying to make a name for himself and trying to establish himself as a bonafide NHL player. He’s got a lot to play for and I understand the position he is in where he feels the need to answer the bell. I love it from a Rangers perspective too, they are rallying around him and the vibes are immaculate.