New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe has opened up about his frustration regarding a severe lack of playing time early in the NHL season, having appeared in just two of the team’s first 14 games.
Standing 6-foot-9, the fourth-line winger has been on the ice only once since Sept. 29 and not at all since Oct. 13, when he logged less than four minutes of ice time against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden. Because Rempe cannot be sent down to the American Hockey League without clearing waivers—which risks losing him to another franchise—he remains with the NHL club in a heavily restricted role.
“It’s tough,” Rempe said following Saturday’s practice in Tarrytown. “It’s basically out of my control and all I can do is what I control in practice. I’m just getting my work in so if that during the game, I’ll make sure I’m ready when I get the call.”
Rempe appeared in 26 games last season after playing a career-high 42 games in 2024-25, during which he accumulated 67 penalty minutes. Despite his limited action, the 24-year-old insists he feels physically great.
“I’ve just got to work hard,” Rempe said. “I think it’s a stylistic thing, which is tough. I just want to play and make sure I’m continuing to get better so that when I do get an opportunity, I show I can earn some more runway.”
While Rempe searches for an opportunity to crack the lineup, the Rangers are dealing with roster management and health issues across the squad. Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo completed his first full practice Saturday since contracting a foot infection at the start of the regular season. The 32-year-old goaltender resumed skating last weekend and practiced briefly Friday.
Head coach Mike Sullivan noted that the organization is still evaluating the optimal path for Korpisalo’s return after more than a month on the sidelines, remaining noncommittal on whether the netminder will need an AHL conditioning stint or be ready for the team’s upcoming stretch of four games in seven days, which begins Sunday against Edmonton at the Garden.
“The biggest step here is to get him healthy and then decide the best course of action,” Sullivan said. “It all depends on how he progresses. We’re encouraged with his progression.”
Korpisalo’s prolonged absence, combined with a season-ending injury to Igor Shesterkin, has forced backup Dylan Garand to shoulder the workload in every game. Backup goaltender James Reimer was also recently pulled after one period of action.
Other roster updates from Saturday’s practice include defenseman Sean Durzi missing another session for maintenance, leaving him listed as day to day. Braden Schneider also missed practice due to an illness and is day to day, while Eeli Tolvanen returned to the ice following an absence for personal reasons.
