Is Matt Rempe the new Sean Avery?

Amidst the hype surrounding Rangers rookie Matt Rempe, another Ranger spark plug had some words to say about one of the pillars of the current fourth line. He reminds us of a former Ranger, one that amazed us upon his arrival over 15 years ago. So is Matt Rempe the new Sean Avery? Well the former agitator spoke candidly about Rempe on his podcast saying

“Number 73, the New York Rangers. Matt Rempe. He’s a rookie looking to make a name for himself…Eat what you kill, kid, you don’t get to work from home?” Avery said, “No, you got to show up on your first day of work and you got to fight another man in Matt Martin.”

Avery seemed impressed with Rempe, as he seemingly admired his determination to make an impact in this league. Upon hearing those comments, it had me thinking about Avery himself relative to what Rempe is currently bringing to the team right now. Although they are different types of players, Rempe brings energy to the team with his size and toughness that could be similarly compared to what Avery brought as an agitator.

Both players used tactics to try and keep themselves in the show and in the least, make an impact. This thought process got me to delve a bit further into Avery and what he meant for this team.

Sean Avery was a singular presence, a figure so divisive that even those unfamiliar with hockey recognized his name. He embodied the archetype of a pest, a player who could provoke opponents in every game. Love him or hate him, there was no middle ground when it came to Avery.

Standing at just 5’10”, Avery never shied away from confrontation, challenging opponents regardless of their size. His on-ice antics sometimes crossed boundaries, but he made sure other teams thought twice before engaging in any underhanded tactics against the Rangers.

What set Avery apart from typical “enforcer” types was his offensive contribution. In his 264 games with the Rangers, he scored 45 goals, accumulated 123 points, and maintained a +19 rating, all while amassing 601 penalty minutes.

Avery wasn’t renowned for his camaraderie in the locker room or his off-ice persona, but he undeniably injected entertainment and excitement into the game. His presence kept spectators on their toes, especially in matchups against Martin Brodeur.

The Avery-Rangers saga began on February 6th, 2007, with a trade from the Los Angeles Kings. The Rangers emerged as clear winners, as the players they traded away had minimal impact in the NHL, while Avery became a spark plug for the team.

During Avery’s time on Broadway, the Rangers boasted an impressive record with him in the lineup (50-20-16) and struggled when he was absent (9-13-3). His contributions included 8 goals and 12 assists in his first half-season, followed by 15 goals and 33 points the next year.

After gaining notoriety with the “Avery Rule,” he secured a lucrative contract with the Dallas Stars. However, his time there was short-lived due to controversies, including a suspension for a controversial comment. He found his way back to the Rangers, delivering impactful performances in 18 games.

As time went on, Avery’s relationship with coach John Tortorella soured. His last season with the Rangers in 2011-2012 saw reduced playing time and a decline in production. Avery retired unceremoniously after that season, leaving behind a legacy as a flawed but necessary disruptor in the Rangers’ history.

While not a flawless player, Avery brought a much-needed shakeup to a mundane locker room and it’s something you can say Rempe can possibly continue to bring for this current Rangers squad.

There is still a long way to go in Rempe’s career, but drawing these kinds of comparisons bode well for the rookie. The difference between Rempe and other big guys, and what makes him more like Avery, is that he can actually play the game. He isn’t a puncher. He’s a hockey player who can drop the gloves. There is a big difference.

The Matt Rempe phenomenon isn’t going away any time soon, and teams are starting to take notice.