AT LEAST 'THE HAMMER' IS IMPRESSED BY REMPE'S SIZE

 With the New York Rangers suddenly acting tough by using a 6-8 1/2, 241-pound rookie to take on all comers, who better to ask for his opinion about MATT REMPE – and his future in the NHL – than DAVE SCHULTZ?

Yes, THE D. Schultz, face of the Philadelphia Flyers’ Broad 

Street Bullies, two-time Stanley Cup champions, of long ago 

… who still holds the league record for penalty minutes in one 

season (555) and finished with 2,706 in 535 games.

The man they called “The Hammer” – among other things – is 

74 now. He lives in New Jersey, not far from “The City of 

Brotherly Love” where he works part-time for the Flyers and 

is writing another book (his second). The first, co-authored by

 STAN FISCHLER, was misleading and caused him 

considerable grief. “I want to clear things up. Set the record 

straight,” Schultz said.

In case you haven’t heard, Schultz regrets his role as an 

enforcer. He never liked to fight, he says … but, at the time, 

because he was very good at it, decided that was the best way 

for him to succeed and make a lot of money. 

As it turned out, it was ... and it wasn't. Fame was fleeting, 

and Schultz is barely making ends meet.

Believe it or not … he made a grand total of $419,000 in 

eight-plus NHL seasons. His top salary was $70,000 … after 

making $10,000 with the AHL Richmond Robins in their 

inaugural campaign 53 years ago. 

“I’ll be all right,” Schultz said earlier this week. “The Flyers 

pay me a little to do a little PR. I just wish I could get this 

book done on time.”

But that’s another story … to be told in “Hammered by Life” 

which, he says, will be available sometime in 2025. About 

Rempe, who – in five games -- already has three fights 

including a nasty beating by Mathieu OLIVIER of 

Columbus  last time out, Schultz wasn’t impressed: “He can’t 

skate. He’ll be back in the minors in no time.”

However, was taken, he admitted, by Rempe’s monster-like 

size. “Six eight and a half? I never would have fought 

someone that big,” Schultz said. “I would have ripped out his 

[midsection] with my stick.”

He was kidding … he was … wasn’t he?

Frankly, having previously discussed (at some length) his 

disdain for fisticuffs, I was surprised to learn Schultz was 

somewhat familiar with the Rangers’ 21 year old – if not his 

name. Fewer than 24 hours before taking on Olivier, Rempe 

fought Flyers’ tough guy NICOLAS DESLAURIERS as the 

opening act of a nationally-televised game on ABC.

Schultz, who told us he doesn’t watch many games anymore, 

saw that fight, NHL co-leader Deslauriers’ ninth of the season 

... as well as Rempe being credited with his first NHL goal. 

Standing in front of SAMUEL ERSSON, screening the 

Philadelphia goaltender, he was barely clipped on the leg by 

linemate ADAM EDSTROM’s shot that eluded the 24 year 

old rookie between his pads … and proved the game winner.

“Lucky goal,” Schultz said.

By then Rempe, who had spent most of 2023-24 with AHL 

Hartford and made his Rangers’ debut Feb. 18 against the 

Islanders outdoors at MetLife Stadium, already was being 

celebrated for his willingness to drop the gloves. With 89 

SECONDS gone, Rempe engaged the Isles’ MATT 

MARTIN in what any reasonable observer would call a draw.

Four nights later Rempe received a match penalty 2:25 in for 

slamming New Jersey’s NATHAN BASTIAN in the head 

with a forearm … then added two minutes for roughing after 

throwing a punch or two when an over-matched Jonas

 SIEGENTHALER attempted revenge and quickly covered 

up in what, by any definition, was a non-fight. The Flyers 

were next and, despite a nine-game winning streak, Rempe 

was getting most of the headlines.

During pregame warmup, Deslauriers and Rempe were seen 

exchanging a few words that everyone correctly assumed was 

about fighting. Challenge made by the Flyers’ 6-1, 218- 

pounder, with his fifth team in nine NHL seasons; challenge 

accepted by his much-bigger but much less-experienced 

opponent. In fact, all of Rempe’s opponents to date have given 

away a minimum of seven inches and more than 20 pounds.

The idea that players would arrange a fight hit a nerve with 

Schultz, who took on all comers in the 1970s and early 80’s 

when most, if not all, fisticuffs were spontaneous. “It’s all 

BS,” he said.“I couldn’t play like that. I NEVER staged a 

fight. I would never tell a guy I wanted to go … and let him 

know I was coming?”

On their first shift, Rempe and Deslauriers squared off, both 

landing numerous blows early and often. This one ended after 

the veteran Flyer enforcer pulled Rempe’s sweater over his 

head then knocked (pulled?) him down to the ice. 

Nevertheless, it would be fair to say Rempe got the decision 

… if nothing else based on a nasty-looking red blotch on 

Deslauriers’ forehead above his left eye.

In a post-game interview, Rempe was almost as giddy as the 

network’s EMILY KAPLAN … who at least asked good, if 

predictable, questions about his introduction to major-league 

hockey. “It’s been so much fun,” said the kid who seems 

likable enough. “I love it.”

Besides, on arrival he knew what was expected of him … a 

role he obviously embraced ... To that point, it had all been 

good. What wasn’t to like?

And, of course, Ranger fans who have been clamoring for 

some “old fashioned hockey” love Rempe … even if it’s 

unreasonable to think he can keep it up game after game. 

“I thought the league had gotten away from all that,” Schultz 

said. “… but, I guess if the Rangers want to act like ‘The 

Bullies,’ they are allowed to do that.”

Back to Rempe. “He said, what? ...‘I’m having fun.’? Try that 

eight years later, after 250 fights … You might not even know 

who you are,” Schultz said.

You could only imagine what Rempe was thinking after 

Olivier worked him over pretty good, giving more than 

twice as many hard blows as he received… mostly to the face 

and head. While it was assumed the veteran Columbus tough 

guy issued the challenge during a brief exchange during 

warmups, Olivier said later he didn’t … that once they got on 

the ice together it was Rempe who said, “Let’s go.” Big 

mistake.

At least we know Rempe can take a punch. Olivier began with 

a solid right to the nose … and did it several times later on. 

There was no immediate indication the nose was broken … 

although Rempe clearly was dazed when the fight was over … 

and he went to the dressing room to undergo mandatory 

concussion protocol before returning to play a total of 5 

minutes.

“He’s getting his bell rung … and he’s going to have problems 

in the future,” Schultz said. “Trust me … I know.”

In the course of a few weeks, Rempe has gone from The 

Latest Best Thing for the Rangers to having not a few people 

worry that he will get hurt badly unless he learns to defend 

himself better. He’s certainly big enough ... and willing to 

stand toe to toe (skate to skate?) with anyone ... but at what 

price to himself? The list of enforcers who suffered brain 

damage keeps growing.

Here’s a stat for you … Rempe has spent more time in the 

penalty box (32 minutes) than on the ice (20) so far this 

season.

Back in the day, when he was terrorizing the NHL, Schultz 

was listed at 6-1, 190 … which is the same height as Olivier 

but about 20 pounds lighter. The Rangers and Blue Jackets 

tangle again Wednesday night (Feb. 28), this time at Madison 

Square Garden where the inmates will be disappointed if 

Rempe and the Columbus left wing don’t get it on again.

He’ll go from hero to zero in a heart beat, serenaded by 

catcalls and booing … guaranteed to hurt his confidence. 

Rempe doesn’t need that, not at this stage of his career. He’s 

got more than 15 minutes of fame in him, doesn’t he?

Maybe Rangers’ captain … and occasional tough guy …

 JACOB TROUBA will step up and tell Rempe he has his 

back. If the kid is smart, he’ll wait to fight Olivier another 

day. He must learn to say, “No.”

But, don’t count on it. Rempe arrived in the New York 

organization with little fanfare, the 165^th player taken overall 

in the 2020 draft, after a less than eye-catching four years in

 major junior hockey. In little more than a year with Hartford, 

he had 14 goals and 183 penalty minutes in 96 games … 

hardly worthy of a call-up … except he was BIG and, more 

important, not afraid. The native of Calgary, Canada, knows 

he can’t afford to back down … not for a moment.

Listen to WILLY BROSSART, who was a teammate of 

Schultz with the Robins and Flyers. The former defenseman 

has been there and done that.

“You cannot drop the gloves every game … especially if 

you’re going to go up against the heavyweights from every 

team. Sooner or later, like he just found out, he’s going to get 

his ass kicked. You don’t want him to get like the Ranger [he 

didn’t name] who committed suicide. You know what? He got 

punch drunk,” said Brossart from his home in Ashland. 

“Maybe it’s good that [Rempe] got a little butt-kicking. 

Maybe it will knock some sense into him, and he’ll say, “Hey, 

I can play hockey, too … and don’t have to fight every 

game.’”

Last words from Schultz, the expert on such things … “The 

Rangers should hire me to teach him how to fight,” he said.

Come to think of it ...