After trading Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken, the New York Rangers recalled Matt Rempe.
This step is no coincidence. The Rangers have lost their identity and desperately need a spark.
Rempe is a player who could help boost the Rangers’ morale in the locker room and bring an element of toughness that they desperately need.
When the Rangers called up Rempe last season, his presence created excitement around the team, and even though he didn’t score many points, the team won when he was in the lineup.
There’s not much to be excited about in New York right now. The Rangers have lost 11 of their last 14 games as their problems begin to spiral out of control.
The Rangers are not a team that opponents fear, but Rempe and his physical style can help change that.
Off the ice, Rempe’s larger-than-life personality will bring some positivity to a locker room filled with negativity and tension amid constant trade rumors.
In all likelihood, the 22-year-old enforcer won’t play a major role, but his presence alone will give this team a boost of life.
At Madison Square Garden, fans cheer virtually every time Rempe does something significant, and the Rangers could certainly use the crowd’s energy as the boos continue to get louder during home games.
If used correctly, Rempe could be a valuable player for the franchise. So let’s hope the Rangers get it right with him this time.