Matt Rempe joins ex-NHL enforcer Georges Laraque’s “hockey fighting” training in Edmonton

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Jul 09, 2024 02:10 GMT

New York Rangers pugilist Matt Rempe was on hand to take part in a “hockey fighting” class with none other than ex-NHL enforcer Georges Laracque. Laracque was one of the most fearsome enforcers during his 13 years in the NHL. The bruising winger played 695 games, racking up a whopping 159 bouts.

Now, Laracque has turned his skills into a training course for up-and-coming hockey players. Among the youngsters in attendance was Matt Rempe.

Here’s what Laracque posted on X regarding his time with Matt Rempe:

“I’m training Matt Rempe and Tyrel Bauer for hockey fighting, this week in Edmonton, at the Silent Ice arena.”

While the hockey fighting course seems like it’s in good fun, Laracque made a dire prediction for this upcoming season:

“If you thought Rempe was a problem this year in the @NHL, wait till you see him this coming season…”

Laracque has officially warned the NHL about unleashing a better-training Matt Rempe on the ice. All in all, Rempe will be looking to improve upon his overall game. Rempe played in 17 games last season, totaling a little over five minutes of ice time per game.

This season, Rempe will be looking to become a permanent fixture on the Rangers’ bottom six, providing toughness, grit and hopefully some depth scoring.

Matt Rempe could bring more to the table next season

A piece in The Hockey News during last season’s playoffs questioned Matt Rempe’s role on the Rangers. The piece outlined how the Rangers were using Rempe as more a sideshow than an actual on-ice contributor.

In particular, the piece doubted Rempe had any sort of meaningful influence on the ice. The following comments underscored this point:

“They (Rangers) can play him if they want for his hits, but arguing that he’s having any kind of needle-moving influence on the ice right now is dreaming out loud. Say otherwise if you must, but don’t be shocked not everyone is buying what you’re selling.”

In other words, Rempe doesn’t contribute much beyond thundering hits and dropping the gloves. That line of thought means that the Rangers will need to figure out if Rempe is worth inserting into the lineup when he’s only on the ice for about five or six minutes a night.

The article does add this interesting silver lining:

“Like any player, he has the potential to improve as his career unfolds, and there’s no discrediting him for being popular among fans and teammates.”

If Rempe can develop his skills well enough to where he could be a solid bottom-six forward, he could become an invaluable asset for the Rangers. Every club would love to have a big, bruising, hard-hitting forward who can pot the occasional goal while playing a defensively responsible game.

If Rempe can turn into that, he could become a core member of the Rangers for years to come.