New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe opens up about mental struggle during thumb injury recovery

The New Rangers have been among the teams with the worst records this season. And three weeks back, during their home game against the visiting Buffalo, the franchise suffered yet another blowout loss. But one forward wasn’t satisfied with his efforts that night.

Matt Rempe sat on the bench as he saw his side get beaten 5-2. With chances of a comeback looking uncertain and frustration, the forward seriously considered dropping his gloves and thought about taking a swing at the Sabres. But he didn’t, and on February 3, he finally revealed why.

Matt Rempe keeps himself in control, but he wants to get better soon

Rempe stopped himself on January 10, but the 23-year-old winger's admission reveals just how dark things became during his recovery from a broken thumb that threatened to derail his season with the Rangers. "I was going to lose my mind," Rempe said of his mental state during the 10-2 loss to the Bruins. "That wasn't a good place mentally."

The 6-foot-9 forward had returned to the lineup 12 games earlier after a nearly two-month absence, but his thumb still prevented him from gripping his stick properly. Smaller players out-battled him for pucks. He couldn't play the physical, menacing style that made him effective in a bottom-six role.

After the team returned to New York, Rempe and coach Mike Sullivan had a frank conversation about his situation. They agreed he would continue practicing with the team but sit out games while his thumb healed further. It was a necessary step back.

Rempe initially suffered the injury in an October fight with San Jose forward Ryan Reaves. His thumb got caught in Reaves' jersey during their bout and broke in "many places," requiring surgery. He still has metal in his thumb from the operation and doesn't have full mobility despite constant efforts to bend and stretch it throughout each day.

The mental toll of that first stint back from injury proved demoralizing. The Rangers managed only 50 percent of the five-on-five expected goal share with him on the ice, down significantly from his previous rates. Sullivan reduced his ice time from an average of 10:48 before the injury to just 8:52 per game.

"I (couldn't) win battles and be a menace or anything at all," Rempe said. After receiving an injection to reduce pain and improve mobility following the Boston blowout, Rempe remained out two weeks for conditioning skates with healthy scratches.

His thumb improved during the Rangers' recent California road trip, and he told Sullivan and team doctors he felt ready to be himself again. He returned to the lineup Jan. 26 against Boston, bringing nerves but also relief when he discovered he could protect pucks effectively again.

"Now I can have confidence that I'm not going to just bobble a puck or drop my stick or feel like I'm skating on the ice with a hand grenade," said Rempe, who remains not cleared to fight. His four games back have shown mixed results, including being on ice for two Penguins goals Saturday in Pittsburgh.

But Rempe is focused on finishing strong, hoping to bookend his season with quality play despite the difficult middle chapter. "Then I can have a great start and great end," he said. "Just a bump in the middle."


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