Islanders neutralize Matt Rempe threat and protect Matthew Schaefer

The New York Islanders made sure to protect their number one overall pick on Monday. 

By now, it should be evident to most hockey fans that Matt Rempe serves a singular purpose for the New York Rangers: to inflict punishment. In just two seasons, he has managed to be suspended for more games than he’s registered points, a statistic that speaks volumes about how he is deployed. Little wonder, then, that the Islanders devoted considerable effort to insulating Matthew Schaefer from Rempe—an enforcer whose presence on the ice evokes less a traditional power forward than hockey’s own approximation of Attila the Hun. 

Protect The Future Star 

The strategy proved effective. Rempe, whose skating has never been mistaken for elegance, was repeatedly diverted from his intended lanes. Forced into awkward detours, he not only lost balance but, at one point, nearly collided with goaltender David Rittich after being steered directly through the crease. Each diversion ended the same way: another wall of Islanders bodies, positioned to intercept him before he could inflict damage on his target. 

What emerged was not the portrait of an intimidating physical force shaping the game, but rather of a blunt instrument rendered clumsy and ineffective by calculated resistance. The Islanders’ message was clear: You’re Not Touching Matthew Schaefer. 

Schaefer Was Injured Most of Last Season 

The Islanders’ emphasis on protecting Schaefer is understandable for several reasons. Foremost, they view him as a potential cornerstone of the franchise’s future. That status alone warrants extra precaution, but it is compounded by his recent injury history. Last December, Schaefer suffered a broken collarbone at the World Junior Championship, requiring surgery and sidelining him for the remainder of the season. Against that backdrop, taking a forceful hit from a player like Rempe is precisely the scenario the Islanders—and Schaefer—are intent on avoiding. 

Rempe: The King of Getting Suspended 

The 6-foot-9, 255-pound winger has been suspended for 12 games in the past two seasons for a variety of dangerous and illegal hits. 

Rempe, who signed a two-year extension this summer worth $975,000 annually, has quickly established a reputation as a repeat offender. During the 2023–24 season, he was suspended for four games after elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in the head. The following year, he served an eight-game suspension for a similar infraction, striking Dallas Stars star Miro Heiskanen’s head and neck into the glass.  

Credit is due to Schaefer, who consistently demonstrated awareness and composure against the imposing Rempe. With roughly 3:37 remaining in the second period, Rempe emerged from the penalty box and broke toward the net on a dangerous breakaway. Schaefer, recognizing the threat instantly, sprinted to intercept and managed to knock the puck away at precisely the right moment. 

Although the Rangers ultimately secured a 3–2 victory at UBS Arena, the Islanders walked away with an arguably greater triumph: their future star remained unscathed, a victory in itself.