The Silver Shield, Vol. 15: Lone Ranger Rempe

“The Silver Shield” is a column by Kasey Kazliner about the National Hockey League.

An ambitious, scrappy rookie

Connor Bedard and Brock Faber might be the headlining newcomers in the NHL this season, but a recent sensation has arisen in New York: Rangers forward Matt Rempe. In 10 games played, Rempe has two points, a goal and an assist, on an average of about five and a half minutes of ice time. While these stats aren’t very impressive, the young forward brings a retro style of hockey to a star-studded Rangers team — an intense desire to fight.

Rempe’s NHL debut wasn’t conventional by any means. He was called up from the American Hockey League just a few days before the Blueshirts’ Stadium Series bout with the rival New York Islanders, an outdoor match at MetLife Stadium in front of nearly 80,000 fans. On his first shift, 21-year-old Rempe fought 34-year-old Isles winger Matt Martin, providing a preview of Rempe’s passion to drop the gloves.

Before he was called up, Rempe spent time with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack and posted just 12 points in 43 games this season. However, his 96 penalty minutes stood out on his statsheet. New York called him up in place of the injured Blake Wheeler, and he’s been a fan favorite ever since. Not only is his game unique, but so is his physique; a lanky 6-foot-7 and 241 pounds, plus two black eyes.

If 96 penalty minutes in 43 AHL games seemed outrageous, try 54 in just 10 NHL games. Rempe racked up 17 sin bin minutes in just 13 seconds of action in his third career game against the New Jersey Devils, as he laid down a big hit on forward Nathan Bastain, then proceeded to fight blueliner Jonas Siegenthaler. Rempe tallied five more penalty minutes against the Philadelphia Flyers the very next game, when he scored his first NHL goal while screening netminder Samuel Ersson. This was the game-winning goal in the Rangers’ narrow 2-1 victory.

Rempe and Siegenthaler’s tension extended beyond the February 22 matchup, however. On March 11, Rempe elbowed Siegenthaler in the head in a neutral-zone play. Rempe received a five-minute major plus a misconduct and was ejected from the game toward the end of the second period, while Siegenthaler left the game to be evaluated.

The elbow check led to a four-game suspension enforced by the NHL Department of Player Safety on March 12. The absence will cost Rempe around $17,000, and he’ll miss some crucial divisional matchups, too.

Whether or not you’re a fan of the Calgary native, his grit and scrappiness is second to none. His total ice time (56:28) and penalty minutes (54) are nearly equal in length, but on a stout New York squad destined for a deep run, his ability to physically stick up for his teammates as a rookie is unique and respectable.

Rempe still has a lot to learn. The hit on Siegenthaler is an example of something he’ll need to avoid if he wants to have a successful career without frequent suspensions. With his pro play just beginning, the novelty of his game is striking, but he’ll need points to back it up. One-hit wonders come and go all the time in New York City; just ask Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito or former Knicks guard Jeremy Lin. But, once Rempe gets back from his suspension — if he can post valuable minutes on the fourth line — maybe head coach Peter Laviolette will take notice, move him up in the lineup and give him a real chance.

Atlanta, take three?

Salt Lake City and Houston have recently put their names in the running to host future NHL franchises, whether it be through relocation or expansion. But, recently, another city has flirted with the idea; enter Atlanta.

The Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group, led by former NHL journeyman Anson Carter, formally requested the expansion process to begin in Atlanta.

The ATL has seen two previous NHL teams come and go north. The Flames, who now play in Calgary, resided in Atlanta from 1972-80. Attendance issues sparked the team’s eventual move, leaving the city without a team for close to two decades, until the Thrashers were born in 1999. Dwindling fan interest and a poor on-ice product, including zero playoff wins in 11 seasons didn’t give Atlanta residents many reasons to see games, so the team was eventually sold and relocated to Winnipeg, becoming the Jets.

The Thrashers played at then-Phillips Arena, also home to the NBA’s Hawks. Combine heavy road traffic during game days and a losing team, and you have low attendance numbers. Carter hopes to combat this issue by building a new arena in Alpharetta, 30 minutes away from the Thrashers’ former home.

But, why give Atlanta a chance again? It’s a valid question — losing two franchises in the same sport is alarming. However, Carter has a vision to build a more accessible arena in conjunction with putting a winning product on the ice to appease hockey fans in the area. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes play somewhat nearby, but Atlanta, a city with a team in every other major sports league, feels deserving of another chance. Atlanta has also changed significantly since the dawn of the Thrashers, from demographics to business interests.

Atlanta is home to the ECHL’s Gladiators, who have yielded about 4,000 fans per game this season. The NHL appears to be content at 32 teams, but if expansion were to come in the future, Atlanta will aim to bring the sport back for the third time.

“The Silver Shield” runs every Thursday.