Rangers Matt Rempe Gets Passed The Tough-Guy Torch From Islanders Matt Martin

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — The last time the New York Islanders and New York Rangers exchanged fisticuffs was back on Nov. 21, 2021, when Jean-Gabriel Pageau fought Alexis Lafreniere.

That changed at Sunday night’s Stadium Series game when Matt Martin dropped the gloves with Matt Rempe on his first shift in the National Hockey League:

Not too shabby of a way to start your NHL career.

Fighting in the NHL isn’t always about beating the cahoots out of the opponent. It’s usually about respect. And we saw that displayed on Sunday night.

It turns out that Martin, knowing Rempe’s game, congratulated the young player on his NHL debut during his first shift and then asked if he wanted to tussle in front of 70,000-plus people.

Here’s the story:

Enforcers in the NHL have become a dying breed. Nowadays, fights usually only occur after illegal hits or questionable hits, which come with a retaliation penalty.

To see the way Martin, in an old-school way, helped make Rempe’s first NHL game even more memorable is something that will get overlooked from a 6-5 overtime defeat to their cross-town rivals.

But it’s something that the 21-year-old newcomer will never forget.