Matt Rempe's unfair treatment by referees has gone too far

Matt Rempe has a reputation around the league and among officials as a moron who doesn’t know how to play hockey. His only goal is to hit and hurt people. We Rangers fans know that’s not true at all, and we see a kid with skills who just needs to learn how to control his body. But he was targeted throughout the playoffs, and in Game 1, the referees’ unfair treatment of Matt Rempe finally went too far.

Matt Rempe gets so many stupid calls about his reputation that I just have to support him at this point.

– Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 5, 2024

Let’s be realistic, when Bruins fans are starting to rethink what they think of Rempe, you know something is going on. The first game was the worst, when it was clear that Jordan Staal had collided with Rempe against Frederik Andersen, but Rempe was penalized. Meanwhile, Tony DeAngelo delivered a Lex Luger forearm to Will Cuylle – something Rempe reportedly received a suspension for – and only got two minutes.

In the Washington series, Rempe was regularly penalized for the simple fact of guys hitting him and falling. Trevor van Riemsdyk’s hit was certainly a penalty, but the others were as soft as possible. It seems like every time Rempe is on the ice, officials are looking to pay him a visit.

It’s abundantly clear that he’s being targeted, and the referees’ unfair treatment of Matt Rempe has simply gone too far. Ghost calls are just one aspect. We know the kid has time to learn, including how to properly use his height, but penalizing him for other players skating over him or pushing him into one of their teammates is patently absurd.

Rempe has more than enough real talent to become a regular in the NHL. We saw his ability to drive the net, find open ice and convert his chances. He has the raw talent that, if polished, can lead to a decent NHL career. But as long as he is targeted, he is a liability for his teammates, especially in the playoffs.

The playoffs are not a good time for him to learn. It is very good. Carolina may not be the best match for him. It is good too. But authorize this continued targeting of Rempe by supposedly impartial officials? It’s not good.