"When Matt Rempe first came up to the NHL two years ago, he was treated as a throwback to a different era of NHL hockey. Rempe was deployed by Peter Laviolette as nothing more than a glorified goon. This Matt Rempe circus would always be the same: Rempe got 5-7 minutes a night and would only be sent out as sideshow act. He was done no favors by his old head coach to help develop his game or turn him into a useful NHL player."
"Mike Sullivan has not only helped to turn the Blueshirts defensively but has also helped end the Matt Rempe circus and the conversation around Rempe just being a glorified goon. Rempe has seemingly earned the trust of the coaching staff and it's been evident early this season with the fourth line sent out late in games, something that seemed unthinkable two years ago."
"It also helped Rempe's cause that he improved his skating in offseason to help make him a better and more useful player. But it's also been Rempe's composure during games. He's not taking undisciplined penalties or just looking to cause chaos for the sake of chaos. He's become a big part, pun intended, of why the Rangers fourth line has been so effective this season along with Sam Carrick and Adam Edstrom."
"The fourth line has been tenacious as a group, forechecking and getting in on opposing teams defenses to force turnovers and create chances for the Rangers. While they haven't converted on all their chances, they've done a good job of creating and just being an overall pain to play against. Instead of being a sideshow with the Matt Rempe circus, Sully has allowed this line to thrive."
Matt Rempe entered the NHL as a throwback enforcer used sparingly for 5–7 minutes and labeled a glorified goon. Coaching changes and offseason skating improvements changed his trajectory by 2025. Mike Sullivan entrusted Rempe with more meaningful shifts, including late-game deployments for the fourth line. Rempe showed greater composure, reduced undisciplined penalties, and became a stabilizing, physical presence alongside Sam Carrick and Adam Edstrom. The fourth line forechecks aggressively, forces turnovers, and creates scoring chances, functioning as a tenacious, difficult matchup that contributes to the Rangers' defensive identity and depth.
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