Even with the Rangers involved in the Eastern Conference Final, Matt Rempe is already thinking about how to make the most of his summer training to take the next steps in his development.
“Just working on all my skills every day,” Rempe told The Post before Game 1 against Florida. “Every single aspect of my day. Have a detailed plan every day, this summer I’m gonna have a detailed plan [of] every single aspect I gotta work on.
“Everything, what I’ve done my whole life, is outwork people and that’s what I want to do. I know I got a long way to go. I’ve just been always playing catchup, per se, the last couple of years and here I want to exceed expectations every single day. I got a lot of work to do now.”
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Rempe, who came out of the lineup for the 3-0 loss in Game 1 against the Panthers for Filip Chytil, made a demonstrable impact on the first round before playing in just three games against Carolina — barely taking a third period shift in any of them.
Now, after Florida took the physical edge in Game 1 and after Chytil played under 10 minutes and took just three third-period shifts, the question is whether now is the time for the Rangers to go back to Rempe.
“You always want to play,” Rempe said. “But I know it’s a long journey I got ahead. I’ll enjoy every part of it. … I gotta get better. I want to be that impact player. Just learn from everything and don’t take anything personally. Have fun every morning. I’m always hungry, always want to get better. That’s the way I look at it.”
Few pegged Rempe as someone who could get this far after he was drafted in the sixth round in 2020.
It says something that he is not just trying to make the most of being around the Rangers right now, but already thinking how to maximize the next opportunity — the one that will come over the summer, with the spotlight firmly away from him.
“Oh, I’m always thinking,” Rempe said. “I always have plans, always know what I’m gonna work on. Every day when I’m out here, I’m executing my plan, what I gotta do. Working on all my game plans, what I gotta do to get better in the gym, on the ice, everything.”
That was before Game 1, when there appeared to be only an outside chance at Rempe becoming an option.
Now, his next opportunity could come as soon as Friday night.