Even with the Rangers mired 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 Wednesday’s Game 1 against the Panthers. “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.”
Rempe, who appeared likely to remain out of the lineup for the conference finals after being scratched for Game 6 against Carolina and with Filip Chytil looking ready to rejoin the team, has had an up and down playoff run so far.
The series against Washington, in which he was at the center of shenanigans, proved a demonstration of the same value he provided in 17 regular-season games for the Rangers.
But Rempe featured in just three of the six second-round games against Carolina and barely played in the third period of any of them.
The 6-foot-8 ½ native of Calgary says he does not take that personally whatsoever, and his communication with coach Peter Laviolette has been positive.
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“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.”
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