The Rangers have locked up one of their own restricted free agents, ensuring that a fan favorite isn’t going anywhere.
They’ve agreed to a two-year contract with forward Matt Rempe, the team announced June 18, with the deal worth a total of $1.95 million ($975,000 average annual value), according to a league source who spoke with lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, on the condition of anonymity.
The 22-year-old is coming off a career-high 42 games played, including 37 of the team’s final 42 contests. He posted eight points (three goals and five assists) with a plus-seven rating and 40.41% xGF, according to Natural Stat Trick.
He didn’t log big minutes, averaging just 8:30 time on ice per game − notably up from 5:38 the previous season − but his shifts are nothing if not eventful, resulting in team highs in hits per 60 minutes (19.64) and penalty minutes (67).
Both the Rangers and Rempe felt his impact grew as the season went on, with Rempe telling reporters on April 21, “From the beginning of the season to the end, I think a lot of development happened. My game got a lot better.”
There’s an undeniable presence about the 6-foot-9, 255-pounder, and he’s shown glimpses of harnessing that size, strength and ferocity in a useful way.
His debut in the second half of the 2023-24 season was defined by overzealous body checks and fights against some of the NHL’s heavyweights, making him a magnet for hypercritical officiating. But it’s his thundering forecheck and heavy net-front play that appeal to the Rangers, who’ve also been impressed by his tireless work ethic and commitment to improving all aspects of his game. They view Rempe as an ideal fourth-line menace and plan to team him with fellow RFA Adam Edström in that role next season.
Forward Juuso Pärssinen was also inked to a two-year contract extension on May 2 − his worth $2.5 million ($1.25 million AAV) − but New York has several other RFAs to sort out, with an updated projection of nearly $14 million in available salary cap space to aid the cause.
Defenseman K’Andre Miller is the biggest domino, with multiple sources indicating that Blueshirts team president Chris Drury is likely to trade the talented 25-year-old to the highest bidder in the coming week or two. Winger Will Cuylle is a top priority to re-sign, with confidence from both sides that something will get done, while decisions must be made on depth forwards Edström, Brendan Brisson, Arthur Kaliyev and Jake Leschyshyn and defensemen Zac Jones and Matthew Robertson.
Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Rangers re-sign Matt Rempe, with multiple RFAs left to sort out
Reporting by Vincent Z. Mercogliano, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
