Matt Rempe wasted no time raising the temperature at Rangers camp, giving head coach Mike Sullivan an early look at his trademark edge.
The confrontation came during Thursday's scrimmage at the Rangers' training facility in Greenburgh, New York. Rempe and defenseman Marc Del Gaizo became tangled along the boards late in the opening period.
Del Gaizo checked the 6-foot-9 Rempe into the boards, and the Rangers forward immediately responded. He shoved Del Gaizo hard enough to knock his helmet loose as teammates stepped between them.
The exchange stopped short of a full fight, but it quickly became one of the biggest talking points from the opening day of camp.
Del Gaizo brushed off the confrontation afterward.
“It's nothing personal. It's training camp. Everyone's trying to go out there and put their best foot forward.”
He also described himself as bringing “piss and vinegar” to his game, making it clear there were no lingering issues from the heated sequence.
Rempe is already fighting for his spot
There's another layer to the confrontation. Del Gaizo and Rempe trained together during the summer, giving the camp clash a very different context than two players with existing bad blood.
Rempe's physical approach also wasn't isolated. Will Cuylle delivered a heavy check on rookie defenseman Alberts Smits, while J.T. Miller sent Carey Terrance to the ice during another physical exchange.
For Rempe, every rep matters because his roster position isn't locked down.
The Rangers initially had Rempe rotating as an extra while Tye Kartye, Joe Veleno and Jaroslav Chmelar worked on the fourth line. That puts immediate pressure on Rempe to force Sullivan's hand.
His willingness to bring energy and physicality has never been difficult to find. The bigger question is whether that edge can translate into a dependable role Sullivan wants in his opening-night lineup.
With the Rangers preparing for their September 29 opener against Boston, Rempe has little room for quiet practices. Camp has barely started, and he's already impossible to ignore.
Should Matt Rempe have a spot in the Rangers' opening-night lineup?
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