Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesWith 12 games remaining for the New York Rangers this season, it does not appear as if Matt Rempe will return to the lineup.
Rempe has missed the past 13 games due to a broken thumb that he suffered in a game against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 23 after a fight with Ryan Reaves.
The broken thumb required surgery, and Rempe was placed on long-term injured reserve, missing a total of 24 games.
Upon returning to the lineup in December, the 23-year-old forward struggled, failing to record a point in 17 games, and he admitted that he still faced limitations due to his injured thumb.
“I was out for about two months, and it hasn't gone as I wanted it to when I came back,” Rempe said in January. “It isn’t bad or anything, but it's just been okay… Just getting my thumb back. I just need to keep working. It's harder on my stick right now. It’s my top hand, so it’s hard in the battles and stuff, but there’s no excuse.”
Ultimately, Rempe was placed on injured reserve in February, as he was forced to undergo a second thumb surgery.
On Monday, Mike Sullivan revealed that he “would be surprised” if Rempe plays again to close out the 2025-26 campaign.
“I have to investigate more on that, but what I’ll tell you is I’d be surprised if he plays,” Sullivan said of Rempe’s status.
In other injury news, Noah Laba, who is week-to-week with a lower-body injury and Urho Vaakanainen who is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, are both progressing and skated on Monday.