Matt Rempe ready to showcase his development in latest Rangers chance

DALLAS — Matt Rempe embraced his AHL assignment.After the Rangers rookie bounced between the NHL club and the minors for the first six-and-a-half weeks of the season, Rempe has settled into his new role with the Wolf Pack as both a top-six skater and a special teams contributor.While the start of the 2024-25 campaign hasn’t gone the way Rempe presumably imagined it would after he burst onto the NHL scene last season, the 22-year-old still has relished his increased AHL responsibilities and maintained a positive outlook on how it will all help him in the long run.Rempe got his first chance to showcase his progress Friday night against the Stars at American Airlines Center.“I wouldn’t say a reset.I think it’s all just development,” Rempe said of how he perceived his Hartford assignment.

“I got a long journey ahead of me.I’ve come a long way in a short time, and I think that the best thing for me is to just keep developing and stuff like that.

First years in Hartford, I don’t think I played over 12 minutes once.I don’t think I played a single second of special teams ever.

I think that for me to go and suddenly play 18 minutes and be very effective, as well, not just be given that, earn it, as well.“I can be very effective in those minutes.It’s very beneficial.

I think it means my game’s come a long way.I wouldn’t say a reset.

I think it’s just more development.I think now I got to hopefully showcase that, as well, and show that, ‘Hey, wow, he’s really good defensively.

He’s making the plays on the wall, and he’s still bringing all of that elements.’ And hopefully extend plays in the ‘O’ zone, not just get pinned on the wall or turn it over.Try to extend those plays.“But still, play my game.

Go run around and do all that stuff, as well, but do other things, as well.Just try to continue to grow into a really well-rounded hockey player.”Down a forward after the Kaapo Kakko trade just before the NHL’s roster freeze ...