Matt Rempe criticized for making huge mistake this offseason!

In his first season in the National Hockey League, New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe quickly cemented himself as an enforcer. He only played 17 games in 2023-24 but he’s become fan favorite among Rangers fans and earning himself a host of fans from across the NHL as well.

This summer, Rempe has a new sparring partner in former NHL enforcer Georges Laraque with the latter recently posting this on social media:

If you thought Rempe was a problem this year in the NHL, wait till you see him this coming season,” Laraque tweeted.
Laraque racked up 1,126 penalty minutes in a 12-year career for the Edmonton Oilers, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Montreal Canadiens.

Fans and pundits however believe that training under Laraque is a huge mistake on Rempe’s part. Team insider Stan Fischler for the Hockey News explains why that is:

“Matt Rempe has launched his summer on the wrong foot; or should I say fists?,” Fischler wrote.

“Rempe, the largest player in the National Hockey League, should not be learning how to fight because we already know that he’s two fisted and scary.”

Fischler strongly believes Rempe should work on his skating during the offseason instead of getting tips from a former enforcer.

“Several NHL experts – not to mention scouts – have pointed out that the Rangers late-season phenom has a major weak area; he’s a cockeyed skater,” Fischler added.

While the Rangers’ rookie was one of the least successful fighters in the league last season with a 20-percent win rate, he needs to focus on what matters most and become more of a trusted option for head coach Peter Laviolette.

His fighting skills did help Rempe to burst onto the NHL scene, he needs to prove that he can be a reliable offensive forward, and clearly the choice to train with Laraque won’t help in that department.

Rempe posted just one goal and one assists this past season. In 11 playoff games, Rempe’s most minutes were the 10:06 he played in Game 2 against the Florida Panthers in the EC Finals. By Game 5 of that series, Rempe played a mere 2:43 and was scratched for Game 6.