WA-NYR-TradeRumours The New York Rangers have a problem; and a big one at that. His name is Matt Rempe. The oversized-by-a-lot right wing can't make up his mind whether he wants to be a hockey player, head-hunter or Sideshow Charlie. Or, all three. According to the National Hockey League wardens, The Monster of Manhattan is nothing but trouble. That's why El Rempo graciously accepted the league's invitation to plead his latest case of hockey harassment. This time Rempe subdued the Stars very best player – defenseman Miro Heiskanen – with an elbow you wouldn't want delivered against your worst enemy's head. Mashed Miro went down while Maestro Matt exited Stage Left with a major, a game misconduct and the eventual NHL hearing. The point here is that the Rangers can do without Rempebut Matty would rather not do without the Rangers. "Rempe really wants to stick with the Rangers," says scout Jess Rubenstein, who closely followed Matt when Rempe played for Seattle. Like most of the civilized world, Jess finds Rempe to be a gentleman and a scholar away from the tempest this Skating Giraffe causes on the NHL ponds. As for the whack job that got Rempe into trouble, Rubenstein adds, "I don't think that that hit on Heiskanen was necessary. Matt should have let up knowing where he was on the ice." Somewhat surprisingly The Maven's unofficial poll has Ranger fans divided over whether or not Rempe belongs on the team. Out of towners – both media and fans – consider Matt more menace than magician. After all, how does one defend a fellow who has two NHL points and four ejections to his discredit? One who has been ejected from 18 percent of the games he's played? Or, to put it the way GM Chris Drury has to be thinking: IS REMPE WORTH ALL THIS TROUBLE? The Maven's answer is simple enough: Give Matt one more chance!
