So. it’s come to this Matt Rempe is supposed to be the Blueshirts’ savior.
At least that’s what my friend Larry Brooks is suggesting in The NY Post. Peter Laviolette’s Blueshirts are too “Vanilla” for Brooks’ taste and frankly, I see his point.
If Chris Drury and Laviolette heed Larry’s advice, perhaps The Skating Giraffe can nudge The Seventh Avenue Skaters out of Slumberland; although that’s not exactly a novel idea.
“They tried Rempe before,” says The Old Scout. “They give him a few shifts and then they either bench Matt or send him back to Hartford. It’s becoming boring already.”
Perhaps Mauler Matt IS the answer but not if his act and, sadly, that’s what it’s become, an act stupidly remains five or six minutes of ice time and out!
He’s been turned into a quasi-goon; no more and no less, when the coach should try to turn him into a hockey player.
As I said in the homestretch and playoffs last spring, if this tallest player in the NHL is going to be a plus-factor he must be given regular ice time either on a third or fourth line. None of this once-in-a-while stuff.
But here’s the rub; the loyalists are on to Matty’s act. New York fans are savvy; they can’t be fooled. The Maven listens to them and I can safely say that at least half the fans figure Rempe to be a minor leaguer and no more than one.
Where once the large man from Calgary had every Rangers fan in his palm; not anymore.
“He can’t play,” are three little words that I’m hearing over and over again. “He goes out there, gets a penalty and that’s the end of it.”
They are right but only up to a point. Lavvy really has not allowed The Kid to show what he’s got as a forward or IF he’s got it. We see only bits and pieces of the good, the bad and the ugly.
The coach must give Rempe more than a fighting five minutes. He needs to take a regular turn with Will Cuylle as his left wing and you won’t need a fight. A pair such as that taking a regular turn would keep any foe on his toes.
Five minutes is not enough; not even ten. A dozen minutes for two or three games and you all will know whether Rempe has the goods or simply is bad burlesque on skates.
But could you ever have imagined that the fate of the Rangers is with a borderline big-leaguer who’s already failed four auditions? Hard to believe that the club has come to this.
Turning this Vanilla ice cream team into filet mignon may not be possible unless Matt happens to become magic chef!