5 days ago
The Absolute Last Words About Matt Rempe As Rangers Savior
Danny Wild-Imagn Images
The Maven has said all there is to say about Matt Rempe; simply this: if properly utilized by new coach Mike Sullivan, the Not-So-Gentle Giant could be a meaningful asset.
But superscout Jess Rubenstein asked to have the floor for a minute, just to set the Rempe record as straight as can be:
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For transparency purposes, let me add that Rubenstein has had a special link to Rempe but better I should let Jess explain:
"I've known Matt since his days with the Seattle (Major Junior) Thunderbirds," says Jess. "We got along in large part because we both lost our fathers as teenagers to
a heart attack."
As an outspoken Rempe advocate, Rubenstein claims that one of the unfair raps against Matt is that critics check out The Stratospheric One and conclude that his 6-8, 250 pounds means that he'll never improve.
"You can't teach size," Jess insists, "but you can work with him to improve his skill set."
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Which explains why GM Chris Drury added two years to Matt's contract with a very modest $155,000 raise. Ergo: The large lad comes cheap. For the Rangers' accountant, like pennies from Heaven.
Rubenstein: "If Mike Sullivan is smart – and I hope that he is – then he'll realize that he should park Rempe in the enemy crease and let his eye/hand coordination do the rest."
It is a fact of hockey life that over the decades, players have grown taller and taller but when it comes to officiating, critics such as Rubenstein believe that the refs are more apt to penalize Rempe BECAUSE he's the NHL's biggest player.
One, Last Kick At The Matt Rempe Myth
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Maybe yes, maybe no, but this much is certain, Matt must assume that he's a marked man and adjust accordingly.
I agree with seer Jess that if Rempe plays it smart – and not bull-in-a-China Shop dumb – The Skating Giraffe should be good for at least ten goals next season.
And for the relatively little dough Rempe will earn, that's chicken feed for the giraffe!
