Matt Rempe focused on rare Rangers chances as trade rumor lingers

Matt Rempe didn’t hesitate.It’s “definitely been different” seeing his name in a trade rumor, something that had never happened until last week, when Sportsnet’s Frank Seravalli reported that Oilers head coach Mike Babcock is “believed to admire” the 6-foot-9 Rangers forward — and specifically linked Rempe as a potential option for a team looking to add size.  Get Mollie Walker’s text messages with the latest Rangers buzz and get your questions answered — exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.

It marked the first rumor to swirl about Rempe, who, after making the roster out of training camp, fell out of the fourth-line rotation and skated only in his third game of the season Tuesday when the Rangers hosted the Blues at the Garden.He said he’ll stay off social media to avoid the chatter and has instead focused on trying to carve out a role with the team he broke into the NHL with four years ago. “I don’t pay attention to that stuff,” Rempe, a Calgary native, told The Post on Monday.

“That type of stuff’s all out of my control.I’m just focused on here and trying to get better and get in the lineup and make the most of those opportunities.” Tuesday marked a rare chance for Rempe to skate in a game this season, as head coach Mike Sullivan placed him on the fourth line alongside center Noah Laba and the recently recalled Jaroslav Chmelar.

Rempe appeared in the season opener against the Bruins and then Oct.13 against the Lightning, but he hasn’t played the past three weeks — watching instead as Sullivan searched for solutions to a fourth line that hardly played. Rempe’s path since the start of last season has been rocky, too.

He underwent two thumb procedures following an October 2025 fight with Ryan Reaves, and the injury — and subsequent recovery — limited what Rempe could contribute with his puck movement and stick-handling.Rempe, though, reiterated in training camp that he was fully recovered, and he fought Tampa Bay...