The debate about whether Matt Rempe moves the needle for the New York Rangers remains a popular discussion, but Adam Proteau says it's a distraction from their success.
Statistics are a funny thing – you can use them to make an argument that not everyone agrees with.
That seems to be the case regarding the New York Rangers’ success and its link to including young forward Matt Rempe in the lineup.
The Blueshirts are 8-1 with Rempe on the ice and 2-2 without him during the NHL's playoffs. But that's not convincing enough to conclude Rempe is providing an emotional spark for the Rangers.
It’s a tidy little narrative to suggest Rempe is having a major impact on the Rangers’ performance in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but he’s at best a periphery influence who doesn’t mean anywhere near as much to the Blueshirts’ cause as their key components.
Rempe is averaging a team-low 6:29 of ice time in nine games, and he has just a single goal in that span. He might have an above-average night here or there, and his big frame and bigger body checks will get him on a highlight reel every so often, with 34 hits in his 58:20 of total ice time in the playoffs.
But let’s be real here – the Rangers' play-drivers are star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, forward Chris Kreider, defensemen Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba, and forwards Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere.
Even forward Barclay Goodrow, who has averaged 13:29 of ice time, has made a bigger impact than Rempe. Goodrow has posted six goals and eight points in 13 post-season games, and two of his goals were game-winners. When Rempe has even a single game-winner – or an assist, for that matter – you can let us know, and we’ll update our ranking of the biggest difference-makers in Manhattan.
The Rangers’ depth of high-end talent is why they’re leading the Florida Panthers in their Eastern Conference final series. You can ascribe their success to Rempe’s presence all you want, but we’re talking about a 21-year-old, first-time NHL playoff performer who had just one goal and two points in 17 regular-season games.
From this writer’s point of view, the debate about whether Rempe provides a big boost or not is a distraction. Like any player, he has the potential to improve as his career unfolds, and there's no discrediting him for being popular among fans and teammates. They can play him if they want for his hits, but arguing that he’s having any kind of needle-moving influence on the ice right now is dreaming out loud. Say otherwise if you must, but don’t be shocked not everyone is buying what you’re selling.