The New York Rangers have a problem; and a big one at that. His name is Matt Rempe.
The extreme right wing can’t decide if he wants to be a hockey player, a bounty hunter or Sideshow Charlie.
Or, all three.
According to National Hockey League officials, the Manhattan Monster is not a problem.
That’s why El Rempo graciously accepted the league’s invitation to contest his latest hockey abuse lawsuit.
This time Rempe beat the Stars best player – defenseman Miro Heiskanen – with an elbow you wouldn’t want delivered to the head of your worst enemy.
Mashed Miro went down while Maestro Matt came out of the Left Wing with a big, game misconduct and an eventual NHL hearing.
The point here is that Rangers can do without Rempebut Matty would like to do without Rangers.
“Rempe really wants to stick with the Rangers,” said scout Jess Rubenstein, who followed Matt closely when Rempe played for Seattle.
Like many developed countries, Jess finds Rempe to be a gentle man and a scholar far from the storm caused by the Skating giraffe in the NHL ponds.
Regarding the hit job that got Rempe in trouble, Rubenstein adds, “I don’t think that for Heiskanen was necessary. Matt should have stopped knowing where he was on the ice.”
Surprisingly, Maven’s unofficial research has divided Rangers fans as to whether or not Rempe is in the team.
Outside of the townspeople – both the media and the fans – they consider Matt more of a danger than a magician.
After all, how does one defend a guy with two NHL points and four foul shots? Who has been sent off in 18 percent of the games he has played?
Or, to put it the way GM Chris Drury should be thinking: IS REMPE WORTH ALL THIS TROUBLE?
Maven’s answer is simple enough: Give Matt another chance!
