GoonBlog.com

Hockey fight blog with humorous, blow-by-blow commentary on goons, enforcers and donnybrooks

Hockey fight blog with humorous, blow-by-blow commentary on goons, enforcers and donnybrooks.

Matt Rempe

Do Enforcers Still Exist in Hockey? Modern NHL Fight Roles


in Goons, Arber "Wifi" Xhekaj, Derek Boogaard, Matt Rempe, Old Time Hockey

If you’ve spent any time on Reddit or hockey Twitter lately, you’ve probably seen the question pop up: are enforcers still a thing in hockey? It’s usually asked by someone who just watched Matt Rempe try to dismantle a human being, or maybe someone who tuned out around 2011 and is just getting back into the sport. The short answer is yes. The long answer is yes, but they don’t look like Bob Probert anymore.

The game has changed, the rules have tightened, and the days of the three-minute-per-night heavyweight are over. But if you think the enforcer is extinct, you haven’t been paying attention to the 2025-26 season.

The Extinction of the One-Dimensional Goon

Let’s get one thing straight. The traditional enforcer – the guy who played four minutes a night, couldn’t skate backward, and only existed to punch someone in the snot box – is dead. Gone. Finished.

The salary cap killed him. When every dollar matters, a general manager can’t waste a roster spot on a player who is a liability the second the puck drops. Back in the pre-cap days, teams could afford to carry a guy whose only job was to sit on the bench and wait for someone to take a run at the star center. That math doesn’t work anymore. Every roster spot has to justify its existence, and “I punch good” stopped being enough around 2012.

Rule changes didn’t help either. Don’t get me started.

The instigator rule, the helmet-off penalty, the visor mandate – they all conspired to make fighting more costly and more dangerous at the same time. And then there’s the CTE awareness. The tragic deaths of Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien, and Wade Belak in the summer of 2011 forced a reckoning that the hockey world couldn’t ignore. Three enforcers dead in four months. The league realized the human cost of the heavyweight lifestyle, and teams stopped drafting pure fighters. Parents stopped pushing their kids into the role. The pipeline dried up.

We wrote about this shift back in 2022 when we talked about the future of the hockey enforcer. At the time, we weren’t sure what was coming next. Turns out, the answer was staring us in the face.

The Modern Enforcer: Skill Meets Fist

Fighting isn’t dead. It just grew up. That means the modern enforcer is a multi-tool player. He has to be able to skate, forecheck, kill penalties, and – this is the part the old guard hates hearing – actually contribute to the scoresheet. You can’t just be a pair of fists anymore. You’ve got to be a hockey player who also happens to be willing to drop the gloves when the moment calls for it.

Take Mark Kastelic. The Bruins forward is the co-leader in NHL fights this season with 10 tilts. But he also put up 12 goals and 10 assists while playing all 82 games. That’s not a goon stat line. That’s a legitimate fourth-line center who can also rearrange your face. His best scrap of the year? A 7.46-rated war with Mathieu Olivier on March 29th. Fuckin’ beauty.

Or look at Montreal’s Arber Xhekaj. “Wifi” is a legitimate defenseman who logs real minutes, plays on the penalty kill, and moves the puck. He also happens to be a terrifying human being who had 8 fights this season, including a heavyweight clash with Rempe that shook the Bell Centre. We’ve been tracking the Rempire State Building since his debut, and Wifi is one of the few guys who can go toe-to-toe with him.

Montreal’s Arber Xhekaj

Even the closest thing we have to a traditional heavyweight – Mathieu Olivier of Columbus – plays a regular shift. He tied for fourth in the league with 9 fights, including an absolute war with Ryan Reaves on January 6th that HockeyFights.com rated an 8.59. That was the highest-rated fight of the entire 2025-26 season. These guys aren’t just taking up space on the bench. They’re earning their paychecks.

Curtis Douglas of Tampa Bay tied Kastelic for the fight lead with 10 bouts. At 6’9″, he’s the closest thing to a Boogaard-sized human the league has seen in years. But even Douglas had to prove he could play a regular shift before Jon Cooper would put him on the ice.

The 2025-26 Fight Landscape

If you think hockey fights are gone, the numbers tell a different story.

According to HockeyFights.com, there were 281 total fights across the 32 NHL teams during the 2025-26 regular season. That’s not 1987 numbers – back then you were looking at 0.85 fights per game – but it’s a hell of a lot more than zero. And the fight quality has been outstanding.

Here’s what the top of the fight card looked like this year:

PlayerTeamFights
Mark KastelicBoston Bruins10
Curtis DouglasTampa Bay / Vancouver10
Ross JohnstonAnaheim Ducks9
Mathieu OlivierColumbus Blue Jackets9
Sam CarrickNYR / TBL / BUF9
Arber XhekajMontreal Canadiens8
Tanner JeannotBoston Bruins8
Brandon DuhaimeWashington Capitals8

The Tampa Bay Lightning led the league with 44 fights. They also went 50-26 and made the playoffs. In fact, six of the top seven fighting teams this season clinched playoff spots. There’s a correlation there, even if the analytics nerds don’t want to admit it. A team that’s willing to bleed for each other tends to be a team that’s hard to play against. I’m not saying fighting wins you the Cup. I’m saying it’s not the liability the “ban fighting” crowd wants you to believe it is.

And the goalie fights. My god, the goalie fights.

Three separate goalie brawls in one season. Jeremy Swayman vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy on February 1st. Alex Nedeljkovic vs. Sergei Bobrovsky on January 19th. Jacob Markstrom vs. Igor Shesterkin on March 31st. That’s more goalie fights than we’ve seen in the previous five seasons combined. Something’s in the water, and I love it.

The Bruins: Still Dropping the Mitts

And what about our beloved Boston Bruins?

They finished second in the entire NHL with 33 fights. Kastelic led the way with his 10, but Tanner Jeannot chipped in 8 of his own – including a 7.91-rated barn-burner against Nicolas Deslauriers in Philly on February 28th. Even Swayman got in on the action with that Vasilevskiy tilt. Film at eleven.

We broke down the Bruins’ full 2026 fight card last month, and the fourth line was the heart and soul of this team all year. Kastelic, Jeannot, and the rest of the bottom six brought an edge that the top lines couldn’t always match.

The B’s might have pissed away a 100-point season in the playoffs, but you can’t say they lacked pushback. When the chips were down, they answered the bell. That counts for something. Maybe not enough, but something.

FAQ: The Enforcer Question

Are enforcers still a thing in hockey?

Yes, but the role has changed. The one-dimensional goon who played four minutes a night is gone. Modern enforcers like Mark Kastelic and Arber Xhekaj are legitimate hockey players who contribute goals, assists, and penalty kill minutes while still leading the league in fighting majors. The 2025-26 season had 281 fights across 32 teams – the enforcer adapted, he didn’t disappear.

Who are the best fighters in the NHL right now?

Mark Kastelic and Curtis Douglas led the 2025-26 season with 10 fights each. Mathieu Olivier, Ross Johnston, and Sam Carrick each had 9. Arber Xhekaj and Tanner Jeannot finished with 8 apiece. Olivier’s January 6th bout with Ryan Reaves earned the highest fan rating of the season at 8.59 on HockeyFights.com.

Why did traditional enforcers disappear from the NHL?

Three things killed the old-school enforcer. The 2005 salary cap made it impossible to justify a roster spot for a player who couldn’t skate. Rule changes like the instigator penalty and helmet-off rule added costs to every fight. And the deaths of Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien, and Wade Belak in 2011 forced the league to confront the human toll of the heavyweight lifestyle. The pipeline dried up after that.

Does fighting actually help teams win?

The numbers are interesting. In 2025-26, six of the top seven teams in fighting majors made the playoffs. Tampa Bay led the league with 44 fights and went 50-26. Boston was second with 33 fights and hit 100 points. That’s not proof that fighting wins championships, but it suggests that teams willing to play a physical, accountable brand of hockey tend to be competitive. The Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche ranked near the bottom in fights and were Cup favorites, so it cuts both ways.

Derek Boogaard hockey fight

So – the enforcer isn’t dead. Thank Christ. He just learned how to skate.

And as long as there are cheap shots… and momentum swings… and guys running your goalie – there will be a place for the player willing to drop the mitts and answer the bell.

Just don’t expect him to be sitting on the bench for 55 minutes a night anymore. That version of the job is gone. But the spirit of it? That’s still very much alive in the NHL.

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GoonBlog.com: Benched, Traded or Just Lacing Back Up?


in Milan Lucic, Hockey Movies, Matt Rempe, Site News

The history of our website, Goonblog.com, is a long and sordid yarn.

Also “storied“, possibly “alcohol-fueled“. And I have to assume a lot of material hasn’t “aged well“.

(Laughing as I write this because I just imagined Bennett Brauer reading those first sentences).

Admittedly… it’s been inconsistent.

So – let’s address the fact we’ve obviously lost some posting momentum this season.

And run through our history. And nobody has a gun to your head if you’d rather be watching Slapshot.

A History of Hostility

Back in the site’s 2009-2011 heyday, we were hammered with (relevant/transactional) traffic on a daily basis. Major publications linked to us regularly. Google adored us, and we even got to the point where there was a trickle of advertising, t-shirt and affiliate revenue. Almost enough for a cup of coffee every month. Top of the world, ma.

Jimmy Cagney: Top of the World, Ma!

We were doing a hockey podcast, remote hockey podcasts form Boston Garden, getting into fights at Boston Garden during remote hockey podcasts, interviewing NHL enforcers in person due to a growing perception of “rink cred” – and everything was ticking along nicely. But then, something happened.

Some of us had children, some of us moved away from North Station. And after the Bruins’ Stanley Cup win in 2011, that article about the rioting in Vancouver which was picked up by a dozen big outlets, the delightful smiting of the Sedin Sisters, and that torrid tale of Tim Thomas – some of us may have even thought, “Our work is done here“.

Hockey Blog

There was never a decision, it was never discussed, but we definitely did not pick things back up in 2012.

For the next 13 years, while we did keep renewing the domain name in hopes of a “someday” kinda comeback, the site was left unattended, un-updated, and was even significantly hacked by some little prick in Malaysia.

Now, I’ve been to Malaysia. They’re good people, Kota Kinabalu is beautiful beyond words, and Beef Rendang is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. But he made the mistake of sending me an email once, asking for money to release the site from his clutches, and I got his IP address out of the header. So, yeah, a confirmed little Malaysian prick.

Said little prick kept the site up, but anyone who came through via a Google search was first served an advertising popup window, for fucking raincoats or something, and eventually Google caught on and banished Goonblog from their results, entirely.

In that sense, the slimy little beef rendang-eating bastard shot himself in the foot, which was fun to watch. But once we decided to reboot the site, it became our (almost) insurmountable problem.

A Return to Glory? Not Quite

After finally recovering control ahead of the 2023 season (at great effort and greater expense), we were reinvigorated. Back to form in terms of strategy and content creation. If you ever have to unfuck your site, I’ve got a guy.

Again – just a labor of love we all simultaneously realized we wanted back in our lives. Now that life’s dust had settled. A bit. There is always dust.

Out of the gate there was no shortage of things to discuss. While we lost our initial excitement about Milan’s return to Beantown, we gained the ridiculous rookie season of the Rempire State Building. Then year-over-year fight frequency was on the upswing, and I even finished my best hockey movies post which had been in various stages of production since 2008.

Hockey Fights

Throughout the 2023 and 2024 season, we published nearly 40 new posts. And they were good. Relevant, original, and sticking to our collective GoonBlog credo of: write what we’d want to read. But, despite our best efforts, we stayed working in a “vacuum”, and that tends to take the piss, Schlitz and vinegar out of anyone.

Get Over It, Google

More about the vacuum: Google couldn’t get past the fact we’d once been hacked (granted, for nearly a decade). As a result, to call our organic traffic a “trickle” after 24 months and so many gleaming posts on the new and improved, unhacked, site… would be an insult to trickles, everywhere.

We have Goonbloggers who have been involved in digital marketing, SEO, and getting traffic to sites for 40 years combined. The competency was enviable in that respect. But nothing we did made a difference. And it’s reasonable to say that stubborn vacuum led to this year’s lapse in enthusiasm and output.

It was a diabolical Dyson of a disadvantage (see what I did there?).

But then, one day in early December, after none of us had touched the site in 3 months, there was what can only be described as an algorithmic search engine sea change. We got an email from the hosting company telling us our monthly bandwidth limit had been exceeded.

It was like an angel singing “Return of the Mack” in our ear.

As said, GoonBlog has always been a labor of love. For a rotating cast of 2-4 high school friends, from the mean streets of Concord, Massachusetts. And we do love it. Still.

But a month previous there had been texts around whether to keep ‘er going – or throw in the towel for good. Google finally deciding to stop being a dickhole has been a blazing North Star in terms of the future of the site.

Let’s Go With “Lacing Back Up”

The recent realization that traffic levels are suddenly back up to (and some days exceeding) our 2011 heyday is looking like the kick in a pair of discouraged pants we desperately needed.

Considering all the first time visitors now coming through the doors, a status update after a few months off was needed. The proof will be in the pudding, but Goonblog is back (again), baby.

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2025 Pre-Season NHL Fight Recap


in Brennan Othmann, Connor Mackey, Mark Kastelic, Matt Rempe, Parker Wotherspoon

The NHL Preseason is off and running, and the beloved Boston Bruins have played three games so far.

They’ve locked horns with the New York Rangers twice, and the Washington Capitals once. So far, they’ve lost to the Rangers twice and beaten the Capitals. There’s been two fights, both against the Rangers, and neither featuring New York’s heavyweight heir apparent, Matt Rempe.

Before we get to the fights, allowing me to put on my hockey operations/GM/scout hat for a moment.

Bowled Over By Prune Juice

I didn’t see the game against Washington, as it was Tuesday, and I was bowling. The old timers wanted to watch the final breath of the Red Sox season, and since I’m the youngest person there by decades, I defer to them. Can’t have them pouring their prune juice over my head. I heard Fabian Lysell was much better than he was in his first outing against the Rangers. I heard everyone was better, in general, and that’s good.

“The pins are in the other direction, Sir”

The bottom line with this club in the two games I’ve watched, is they need to sign Jeremy Swayman. Boston needs Marty McFly to show up with a time machine, take us back to the summer, sign Swayman, and THEN trade Linus Ullmark. I assumed when they dealt Ullmark, there was a plan in place to sign Swayman, and a deal was imminent. Evidently, that was wrong.

Fabian Lysell needs to be playing like he actually wants to make this team. There is a wing position available, and it should have his name all over it. He’s been their top prospect since Jesus was in shirt pants, and it really is time for him to make the big club or get dealt. Who cares about winning at the AHL level? They need him to make a leap.

Also, newly signed Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov can take off his Hal Gill costume anytime. I get it’s one preseason game, but good lord, at least try and pretend like you want to be there.

Onto the 2025 Pre-Season Fight Recap

On Sunday, September 22. Boston hosted the Rangers at home. It was kind of a chippy affair, especially for the first preseason game of the year. Bruins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon got run over, in kind of a dirty way by the Rangers’ Brennan Othmann. Wotherspoon left the ice but returned for the second period.

The Rangers were targeting him for some reason, and eventually, Wotherspoon reached his breaking point and dealt with the antagonist Brennan Othmann. It’s not much of a scrap, but I’ll score it a Wotherspoonwin. Good for him sticking up for himself.

The Bruins and Rangers played again on the 26th of September. I was bummed not to see Matt Rempe in the lineup, especially since he didn’t play against the Bruins last week either.

The Bruins weren’t very good, with the exception of the play of one of their newest players, Mark Kastelic. He came over on the trade that sent Linus Ullmark to Ottawa, and it looks like he’s trying to make a case to stay.

After Kastelic scored a goal that made it close at the time, he put the body on Rangers defenseman Connor Mackey. Mac, as I assume he’s called, took exception, and asked Kastelic to fight. Kastelic obliged, and they grappled one another for a minute before they both fell down. I score it a win for Kastelic, because I think he’s the only one that actually threw a punch.

The Bruins are back at it tomorrow against the Flyers. I for one, would like to see some guys play with a little emotion. Make it look like they want to make themselves into a noteworthy team. The Flyers will be ready as coach John Tortorella runs camp like it’s a constant bag skate. I’m hoping Trent Frederic makes an appearance and is looking to stir the pot.

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Top 5 NHL Enforcers – 2025 Preview


in Matt Rempe, Georges Laraque, Nicolas Deslauriers, San Jose Sharks

We’re less than 30 days away. The imminent return of NHL hockey.

We all know how Matt Rempe spent his summer. In short, not at the lake.

Instead of the Big Rideau, he attended the Georges Laraque Fight Camp, and big Georges has commented on the fact Matt is now more dangerous than ever. I don’t hate this information.

(John Munson/AP)

The Flyers showed the highly touted Russian prospect, Matvei Michkov, uncomfortable videos of Nicholas Deslauriers, and told him Nick was the guy that would be protecting him. I’m sure Deslauriers, the NHL leader in fights last year with 11, hasn’t been just sitting around doing nothing in the offseason. If this was the 60’s, he probably would have been working on a farm, and might be just getting around to finding his skates within the next couple of weeks. Those days are long gone.

Goonblog hopes everyone is enjoying themselves this summer, and with the new NHL season right around the corner, we thought it was a good time to revisit our 2024 Top 5 Fighters in the NHL post from February to see where we wound up.

In February the top 5 NHL enforcers looked like this:

  • Andreas Englund – Los Angeles – 8 Fights
  • Liam O’Brien – Arizona – 8 Fights
  • Nicholas Deslauriers – Philadelphia – 7 Fights
  • Brady Thachuk – Ottawa – 6 Fights
  • Jonah Gadjovich – Florida – 6 Fights

The NHL as a whole finished with 311 fights. The top 5 teams in fights were:

  • Arizona Coyotes – 38 Fights
  • Minnesota Wild – 38 Fights
  • Nashville Predators – 35 Fights
  • Tampa Bay Lightning – 34 Fights
  • Anaheim Ducks – 30 Fights

The End of 23-24 Season Top 5 Fighters

It finished similarly to how it started, except Brady Tkachuk fell off the top 5, and was replaced by San Jose’s Luke Kunin.

  • Nicholas Deslauriers – Philadelphia – 11 Fights
  • Andreas Englund – Los Angeles – 11 Fights (He also had one in the playoffs) for 12 total
  • Liam O’Brien – Arizona (Now Utah) – 11 Fights
  • Jonah Gadjovich – Florida – 10 Fights
  • Luke Kunin – San Jose Sharks – 9 Fights

11 is the magic number for amount of fights. It’s worth noting, Matt Rempe has 12 fights last year. 7 in the AHL, and 5 in the NHL. It’s worth further noting, his fights in the National were against guys I would consider to be the top heavies in the game today, and I think his scrap against Deslauriers was the fight of the year.

2025 Top NHL Enforcers?

So, what does the upcoming season hold for us fight fans? Well, if you’re on the East Coast, you’re going to have to keep your eyes on Matt Rempe.

The Rempire State building learning to fight could be a huge problem for guys like Nick Deslauriers, Arber Xhekaj, Kurtis MacDermid and Ryan Reaves. If he really hurts one of those guys, will others be willing to drop the mitts with him, or will they turn the second year pro down and skate back to the bench in the interest of violence avoidance? Yeah, we’ll go with that new coined term.

Out West, Luke Kunin will be busy protecting first overall pick Macklin Celebrini for San Jose. I’m sure there will be some guys wanting to welcome the young phenom to the NHL with a whistle, and Kunin may be called on to answer the bell night in and night out. But we’re getting down a rabbithole now, and have to make some solid predictions. Here we go:

NHL 2025 Top Enforcers Preview (and Predictions)

In an era where analytics reign, violence is actually discouraged, and every shift is scrutinized while the best of the best worry about holding onto their jobs – a few fellas stand out. Here are our predictions for the 2025-2026 season based on previous performance, new opponents and plain old drunken stubbornness. This is mostly subjective, and we were told there would be no math.

1. Ryan Reaves – Toronto Maple Leafs

Ryan Reaves will continue to be a force to be reckoned with. Known for his powerful right hand and intimidating presence, Reaves has averaged 0.15 fights per game over the past three seasons, accumulating 187 penalty minutes. His Corsi For percentage of 48.2% shows he’s not just a one-dimensional player. Reaves’ former coach with the Rangers, Gerard Gallant, praised his impact: “Ryan brings energy every shift. He’s a leader in the room and keeps opponents honest on the ice.”

2. Nicolas Deslauriers – Philadelphia Flyers

Deslauriers has established himself as one of the league’s premier enforcers and was the winner of our pick for the top fight of 2024-25. His grappling ability and relentless style led to 0.18 fights per game and 213 penalty minutes in the last three seasons. Flyers’ captain Sean Couturier commented, “Nic’s presence allows our skilled players to play with more confidence. He’s always there to have our backs.” That’s one way to put it. Deslauriers is a confident killer.

3. Matt Rempe – New York Rangers

You’re right – we obviously love the Rempire State Building around here. But cooler heads have to prevail when balancing his surprising first big show run last year against being an unproven long term commodity of violence. While he’s still developing his all-around game, his willingness to drop the gloves (0.22 fights per game) has earned him respect around the league. As mentioned previously, Georges Laraque called Rempe “a great fighter,” and can be considered an authority.

4. Kurtis MacDermid – Colorado Avalanche

MacDermid brings a blend of old-school toughness and modern defensive ability to the Avalanche. With 0.17 fights per game he’s proven to be more than just a guaranteed goon. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar noted, “Kurtis gives us that physical edge we need, especially in tough playoff series. He’s a deterrent for teams thinking about taking liberties with our stars.” We’d go step further and predict he’ll be on top of this list by 2026.

5. Zack MacEwen – Ottawa Senators

While he’s no Matt Carkner, MacEwen rounds out our top 5 with his energetic style and willingness to throw a chin-biscuit for teammates and at opponents. He’s averaged 0.14 fights per game while contributing positively to puck possession with a 49.1% Corsi For percentage. Senators’ GM, Pierre Dorion, praised MacEwen’s impact: “Zack brings that sandpaper element we’ve been missing. He’s not afraid to mix it up, but he can also chip in offensively.” If there’s anything Canadians need in general, it’s some post Trudeau grit. So buddy made the list.

We’re at the time of year when one might need a sweatshirt at night (although not lately. This global warming is killing me too, Greta). And I’m starting to get that glint in my eye. Like Ralphie’s old man gets nutty about turkey in a Christmas Story, it’s almost hockey season. I can’t wait for these guys to get after it.

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Matt Rempe & Georges Laraque – Fight School


in Georges Laraque, Matt Rempe

The Tweet:

“If you thought Rempe was a problem this year in the NHL, wait ’til you see him this coming season….”

That, my friends, could be the greatest tweet ever. We should leave it at that. Because I considered titling this post “Remping Up with Laraque”. And Goonblog is better than that. Pour l’instant, profitons simplement de cette photo.

Back to the tweet. Or the “X” – Who dropped this bombshell? None other than the legendary Georges Laraque. It seems Matt Rempe took the feedback, about needing some help fighting seriously, as he’s training with Georgie this summer to sharpen his pugilistic skills. Perhaps only because Ivan Drago, Indiana Jones and Mike Tyson were unavailable.

The Year of Rempe: A Rowdy Rookie Rollercoaster

Last year was indeed the year of Matt Rempe. The hype and the kid behind it. The kid exploded onto the scene, earning a slew of nicknames while turning heads left and right. The hype helped break down his early legacy as reality settled in, exposing his chin.

He fought all comers with mixed results, but the knock on him was clear: without proper technique, he was bound to get seriously hurt by the league’s heavyweights. As we pointed out more than a couple of times.

Thankfully, Rempe is taking the initiative to avoid becoming a human punching bag. Training with Laraque, one of the most feared enforcers in NHL history, is a surefire way to up his game and stay out of the infirmary.

Courtesy of habsolumentfan.com

More Than Just Fists: Rempe’s Hockey Skills

Let’s not forget, Rempe isn’t just a pair of fists on skates. The kid can play.

He held his own in the playoffs and didn’t hurt the team when he was on the ice. If he improves his fighting skills at camp this summer, he’s going to be even more dangerous as a player. Peter Laviolette is going to hear it from the Blueshirt faithful if Rempe isn’t in the lineup next year.

The Panthers’ Silent Victory

On another note, did anyone else find it odd that not one team congratulated the Florida Panthers for winning the Cup at the Draft this year?

Maybe they were all tripping out being at the Sphere. Having been there in person for Dead and Company in June, I can see why. But still, it was odd.

So, congratulations, Florida Panthers. They are a gritty bunch built for playoff hockey. Well-coached by Paul Maurice, and they play a relentless style that fits their grinding identity perfectly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZdwMkJTrJM

Summer Vibes and October Frig-Off Dreams

Here’s hoping everyone is enjoying their summer. The ice awaits in October, and with guys like Rempe gearing up for a breakout season, it’s bound to be a wild ride. 

I think we all got just a little bit ahead of ourselves last season. As a proponent of old time hockey, keeping the threat of a donnybrook in place in the name of fair play – we are enthusiastic about Matt Rempe’s scholastic endeavors. Fuckin’ give ‘er, buddy.

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It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year


in Matt Rempe, Patrick Maroon, Trent Frederic

The best time of the year is upon us, hockey fans. The best tournament in the world chasing the most recognizable trophy in the world, has begun!

Our beloved Bruins managed to slip to second in the division. They get the Toronto Maple Leafs, which is a better draw than the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, and after Saturday – I couldn’t be more pleased. I was even more pleased to see some Goonblog favorites getting in on the action.

Leafs Peeping in Boston

The Bruins absolutely dominated the Maple Leafs Saturday. They were more physical in a smart way. Toronto was trying to set a tone physically and took some stupid penalties in doing so. Max Domi’s slash on Brad Marchand’s exposed wrist off a faceoff was especially stupid, and Jake DeBrusk of Boston made him pay by netting his second Power Play goal of the game. I get trying to set a tone, but some Leafs players were going way out of their way to do so. It was like a February college game in that regard. Very spastic and undisciplined. Again, I get it. Toronto has had a problem with being flat against the Bruins this year – and being overly aggressive didn’t seem to help their cause either.

John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

Newly acquired Bruin and three-time Cup Champion, Patrick Maroon, made his presence known early. During warmup, he was casually putting one foot over the redline into the Leafs zone. He did it a couple of times. During gameplay, Maroon put Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren into the Bruins bench. It is a classic playoff hockey move and proves Patrick Maroon is indeed built for the playoffs. If Monday’s game gets out of hand it might be time for Ryan Reaves and Patrick Maroon to have a fight. There’s not a ton of fighting in playoffs anymore, but these guys may need to slug it out.

The Nightmare on Causeway Street, or Freddy Fisticuffs, Trent Frederic got in on the scoresheet. He added the empty net goal to put the game decidedly out of reach at 5-1 Boston. Freddy, who has been known to throw hands, had a career year on the scoresheet. He was also named Boston’s 7th Player Award winner. The 7th Player is awarded to the Bruin that goes above and beyond expectations. Like, hey, we didn’t think you were going to be this good type, but thanks! It’s well deserved for Freddy. He was great this year chipping in on the scoresheet and doing yeoman’s work fighting. ENG’s are important, and it was good to see Freddy getting involved.

Rise of the Rempire State (Building)

Over in New York, the legend of The Rempire State Building, Matt Rempe, continues to grow. Matt got his first career playoff goal to start things off in the Rangers’ first game against the Washington Capitals. The game, and building, was very flat until Rempe got on the scoresheet.

What’s happening in New York is nothing short of a following. I’m reluctant to use the word “cult”, however. A cult indicates only a few people will be taken in. Rempe seems to be everyone’s cup of tea. He knows he’s built for playoff hockey, too.

The Rangers players feel bigger when Matt Rempe is on the ice. Coach Peter Laviolette hears it from the home crowd when he’s scratched with chants of “we want Rempe” from start to finish. In addition to providing some serious charge from his already legendary fights, he may just be a power forward in the making. He skates pretty well in spite of his size and can use aforementioned heft in the corners to punish anyone brave enough to end up in one.

Matt Rempe also has the ability to agitate. Washington fraud, Tom Wilson, was trying to get at the man mountain a couple of times during their contest the other night. I have never been a Tom Wilson fan. I think he’s dirty as a whole and did the role of enforcer wrong when he was a true enforcer. He’s a spot picker and doesn’t give guys a shot.

Trent Frederic has asked him to fight several times, and Wilson has said no. Except when Freddy was at the end of a shift and Wilson decided then was the time to give him a chance. That’s the Wilson way.

Anyway, Tom Wilson would be wise to not try Matt Rempe. I get he’s doing his job and trying to get the Washington bench engaged, but if Rempe obliges him, it could go very wrong for Tommy. Actually, I hope it does happen because I’d love to see Rempe beat the brakes off of him. The legend continues to grow in New York!

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The Rempire State Building


in Milan Lucic, Lowell Lockmonsters, Marty McSorley, Matt Rempe, Portland Pirates, Sean Avery, Trevor Gillies

I have never attended a game where a 5-on-5 fight kicked things off. I have seen all manner of things at a hockey game (freshly minted Matt Rempe shirts, peanut fights, fist fights, mustard pack fights, male and female nudity, hate crimes, personally being escorted out of the Garden) and been in the building countless times when a fight happened right off the opening faceoff. But never an all-ice-encompassing shitshow like that one between the Rangers and the Devils.

Elvis Who? Chris Has *Entered* the Building

I was in the building when Milan Lucic (I am still pissed at him) tried to put Mike van Ryn into the third row at the Garden. It happened right across the rink from my old season tickets, and I remember it like it was yesterday.

And I vividly remember being in the building that time the Portland Pirates and Lowell Lockmonsters had 5 successive fights to start the last game of the season – after someone on the Pirates called the Lockmonsters “beer leaguers” because they weren’t going to the playoffs.

The Monsters put a out a guy that could fight. So did the Pirates. Puck dropped, they squared up. Rinse and repeat 5 times. It was magical.

I have definitely been in buildings for 5-on-5 line brawls. Just not at the first puck drop.

I was building-proximus the night Billy Tibbetts and Trevor Gillies started when they were with Springfield. They came into Lowell looking to stir the pot on a Sunday afternoon, and did just that. Patrick DesRochers, the fighting goaltender from Lowell, went the length of the ice to fight Springfield’s goalie, David LeNeveu.

LeNeveu, after the game, was crying in front of (then) Springfield Falcon coach, Marty McSorley, saying in a very thick French accent, “I did not want to fight him.” Then he’d cry a little. McSorley, was disgusted. I will never forget the look on his face. It was classic.

All that now said, I have never attended a game when a 5-on-5 fight starts the game. It is most assuredly on my bucket list, dare to dream, and I am jealous of all the people in attendance for that epic brawl last week. Matt Rempe and company sure got the hockey world talking.

Five-On-Five Fallout

Sean Avery loved it, and was talking about the brawl on his podcast. Avery was giving the Rempire State Building pointers on how to fight. It was his contention that Rempe needed to lock up Kurtis MacDermid’s arm a little better. Avery’s logic is it will give him better leverage to come over his opponent and use his size and reach to his advantage.

I agree with Avery. Rempe is a tough customer, and is certainly willing to take on all comers, but if he doesn’t start getting better separation when he fights, he’s really going to get hurt. I don’t care how tall that big galoot is.

Chara Chops it Up with Sean Avery

Sean Avery also encouraged the girls of New York City to “take care” of young Matt Rempe if they see him socially. I don’t know Rempe’s marital/girlfriend situation, but if he has one, I’m sure she wasn’t pleased about said advice. Rempe, on the other hand, probably appreciated the shout out / shut himself in the airplane bathroom for 5 minutes.

John Scott has an excellent podcast called Dropping the Gloves. It is the Official Podcast of Hockey Fights.com and is a must listen for any fight fan. Scott is a massive Matt Rempe fan, and the day of the game last week he was pining for Rempe and MacDermid to fight. He covered everything regarding history between the two, and why they needed to fight.

After the much-anticipated fight, and the bonus 4 others, John Scott broke the scrap down for us laypeople. Scott says he loves Rempe, but he can’t fight and wants to work with him on getting better. I’d take him up on that offer, Matt.

His technique is flawed, which both former enforcers Sean Avery and now John Scott have mentioned. His holds, and his balance are all way fackin’ off. I’m not a former enforcer, at all, but I think I have watched enough donnybrooks over the years to solidly agree. Matt Rempe is going to get knocked the fuck out if he doesn’t clean it up.

What John Scott also said about him, and what I fully agree with, is the kid is a gamer. He’s got a raw ability to fight. He likes to do it, and he’s not afraid to go with anyone. Matt Rempe has already fought all the heavies in the game right now. I think he’s lost most of them, but it hasn’t stopped him from doing it, and Goonblog loves it.

Matt Rempe’s Dastardly Detractor

Not everyone, of course, is in on the Matt Rempe love fest. Adam Proteau of the Hockey News says there’s no room for what Rempe’s doing in the NHL anymore, and we should be focused more on playoff races right now. Also, got fuck yourself, Adam. Not really – but just kinda. “Progress” is in the mind of the beholder.

Matt Rempe

2024 NHL Playoff Pontificating

I am super-focused on the playoffs, buddies. My beloved Bruins are on a collision course with the Tampa Bay Lightning. It is probably the worst draw they could get, and if it happens, I think the Bruins are out in round 1. AGAIN.

The race for the last spots in the East is ridiculous. Last week, the Flyers were the third team in the Metropolitan Division. Today, they’re on the outside looking in. In a week, the whole thing changed. I wish the Devils were good, only because if they could have played the Rangers in the playoffs after what happened the last time, I would absolutely sign up to see that series.

In my estimation Matt Rempe is one of the most exciting guys to come along in a while in the fight game. His story of how he got to The Show is incredible. Playing his first game in an NFL Stadium and getting in a fight.

Then following it up by fighting most of the heavyweights in the game, right out of the goddamn gate, and doing OK. He caps the start of his NHL career off by being involved in a 5-on-5 fight in the World’s Most Famous Arena, in the biggest media market in the world.

If I needed any more proof (I didn’t) that Rempe is the catalyst for a bit of an enforcer excitement resurgence, one need look no further than Google’s reported search trends for his name – mostly related to ecommerce and people looking to buy Matt Rempe T-Shirts and jerseys. There is a buzz around the Rangers, and the fluid state of fighting in hockey right now – and we all have little Matty Rempe to thank!

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Matt Rempe’s Reckoning


in Matt Rempe, Kurtis McDermid

The Ref and I had just been chatting about needing more material on Matt “Rempire State Building” Rempe last week, and I agreed. We didn’t think it’d be much of a stretch, but the kid is hot tonight, the internet is thirsty, the Loverboy reference was icing on the cake – and that’s how she goes.

I was going to write some kind of blasé preview about the Rangers and Devils facing off, and how there’d sure to be some sort of frontier justice doled out after Rempe was kicked out / suspended for throwing an elbow the last time these two teams met… but I’m sick with that fackin’ thing going around, and didn’t have it in me.

When I turned on the game, and 2 seconds in there was a line brawl, I briefly thought it was a glorious fever dream. But it was indeed a beautiful reality, and I’m glad I stayed conscious long enough to see it. The kid is hot but also does not disappoint.

Courtesy of Newsday.com

Matt Rempe has yet to make it through an entire Devils / Rangers game. While I find it hard to get through Devils games because they suck, Rempe has a penchant for being kicked out for high hits and flying elbows. In 3 contests, he has played a total of 5:03, racked up 47 PIM, and been ejected from all three games. 

A Shit-Disturbing Preface

  • On February 22, his first game against the Devils, he was ejected 2:25 into the game for boarding Nathan Bastain.
  • On March 11, he made it a little farther, getting 8 shifts for 4:48 time on ice before he was ejected for a flying elbow on Jonas Siegenthaler.

The Devils tough guy, Kurtis MacDermid, tried to fight him after the elbow but was unable to get to him and was given a 10 minute misconduct for his troubles. Insult to penalty, as MacD was being led off the ice – Rempe thought it wise to wave to him, which was obviously in no way antagonistic.

The Line Brawl Stage Was Set

Last night, the Rempire State Building was inserted into the Rangers lineup to start the game. Needing to answer the bell for that elbow, and the resulting suspension, the Devils made sure Kurtis MacDermid was part of the early mix in hopes of settling the score right off the hop.

While everyone expected something ultra-violent to result, I’m not sure anyone expected every player, their mothers, and a hotdog vendor, to also join the fray – but that’s exactly what happened. 

I love the buildup from the announcers talking about the scrap that’s about to unfold. Darren Pang had a Pang in his pants, saying “I have the best seat in the house”. MacD and Rempe are chatting it up before the puck drops, with no intention of actually playing hockey.

Who Said Fighting in Hockey is Dead?

When the puck does hit the ice, the main heavies finally get after it. What no one saw coming, was the other 8 guys picking a dance partner. No one wanted to sit the hoedown out. The camera stays focused, for the most part, on the main event, and it’s a long battle between Kurtis MacDermid and Matt Rempe.

I score it a win for MacDermid. He doesn’t beat the brakes off him, but he does win the fight, IMO.

Even the coaches are into it, as Peter Laviolette and Travis Green are screaming at one another as the dust settles. I’m not 100% sure why Laviolette was so upset, may have had something to do with nude photos, but he was, and I don’t think anyone in attendance or watching at home didn’t enjoy that little bonus round.

When the dust fully cleared in its entirety, 130 PIM were assessed for 5 fights and 4 game misconducts on each side. I’d be interested to know why there were 5 fights, but only 4 misconducts? Best I can imagine is 1 fight started after all the staged fights started? I don’t really know. And, again, I’m still hallucinating a bit in spite of a heavy dose of DayQuil.

What I do know, is our boy Matt Rempe is already a legend. I wish the Devils were a better team, because this sort of bad blood in the playoffs could make for some very entertaining spring hockey.

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Matt Rempe: The Fist Fortnight


in Uncategorized, Matt Rempe, Nicolas Deslauriers, Ryan Reaves

Not “fortnite”, like the popular game where your kid demolishes Mom’s credit cards in order to get a gun in a slightly different shade of green. We mean the British “fort-night“, meaning “two weeks”. And “fist” was meant to be “first”. Just a tragic intro, is the point.

Because, faaaaak, bud. This is the story of a rookie whose NHL antics over 13 days may be able to consistently keep me up past 10pm and reboot the importance of the enforcer role in general.

Fairweather Fruitcakes

As much as it pains me to love a Canadien, I’m still a massive Xhekaj fan, and he had a scrap over the weekend that was as one-sided as they come. It’s also good to see him doing his thing in the NHL again after a demotion to the AHL earlier in the year.

For those of you who have been following Goonblog for a while, you’ll remember we were this close to becoming a Geocities Arber Xhekaj fan site after “WiFi” began running amok in the NHL last year.

But the belle of the ball has been bumped, best-buddy. After the last couple weeks – we may now be in danger of becoming a Matt Rempe fan site. And that’s OK.

Fifteen Days of Matt Rempe

To say Matt has been “busy” since earning his callup just 15 days ago… is the understatement of the year. Since his debut, the little dickens has:

  • Fought Nick Deslauriers in what some people have called the “fight of the decade”.
  • Lost to Mathieu Olivier in a slug fest that gave him a couple of black eyes.
  • Had a Toronto Saturday-night-center-ice-showdown with the legend, Ryan Reaves.

Is Matt fighting against The Ring death clock and that creepy little girl? Or maybe getting an early start on his Nicholson/Freeman bucket list? He is clearly relishing his role as the new tough trousers in New York, and it’s great to see established guys giving the kid a shot. It’s an old school way to operate in the NHL, and I love it.

So, yeah – the hockey world is abuzz as a result of this fascinating new edition. Love or hate the Blueshirts, they play in the biggest media market in the world, and the kind of buzz Rempe generates is great for the fight game. Give yourselves a shake and think “big picture”.

Du-Laurier: Special Mild

The fun got started last Saturday when the Rangers visited the Flyers for an afternoon game on ESPN. Something about afternoon games, man. I remember PJ Stock fighting Stephen Peat on a Saturday afternoon, and while this wasn’t as violent, it certainly had an old school flair to it.

The fight itself gets going early in the first period, but like a lot of these things, it was definitely planned during warm ups.

Deslauriers was seen, leaning over the red line, telling Rempe the Younger they were going to have a fuckin’ go. Matt, with a giant smile on his face, didn’t seem to have an issue with that. Totally off topic, but does anyone else get a Richard Kiel vibe from Rempe?

At the 3-minute mark of the first, it’s on. Simply because Deslauriers and Rempe found themselves on the ice at the same time. Deslauriers gets the Rempire State Building’s attention, and it’s go time.

The gloves come off and they size each other up a bit at center ice. After some posturing, Rempe gets in close, and Deslauriers throws a few rights. From there, each throws hard right hands at one another and both helmets fly off. Both guys employ the jersey over the head tactic a bit. Aside from a little tying each others arms up chicanery, it’s mostly hard rights from each guy after the aggressive fucking shirtings.

Tale of the Tape

Rempe’s size is a disadvantage more often than not, and something Ryan Reaves exploits later in the week. We’ll get there.

When Matt throws a punch, however, he gets inside of the other guy’s reach. And when he misses, he often lands a nice right hand for his troubles. So he’s almost always doing serious damage – because he’s just big and strong. In spite of that size advantage which will undoubtedly to haunt him at some point. And, as we continue, already has.

I score the fight a draw, with a gun to my head advantage to Rempe. Deslauriers is cut, and I think Rempe got a few more punches to land. So far, it’s my fight of the year, and if you wanted to make a fight of the decade argument, like PK Subban did, I’m all ears.

The next night the Rangers were in Columbus to play the Bluejackets and stop me if you heard this one before.

Two Guys Walk Into Warm Ups…

Mathieu Olivier and Matt Rempe were seen stretching it out at the red line, talking it over. “It” being when and where they’d throw down.

At about the 3-minute mark of the first period, it was time to stop talking and start fighting. Rempe used his size at the beginning of the tilt landing two hard right hands. He goes over and under, landing another right, and then delivers a quick uppercut to Olivier. That’s when the tide turns, and Olivier finally gets into the fight. He nails Rempe with four successive right hands, with that fourth being a bell-ringer.

Rempe looks a little stunned and is trying to hang on as Olivier lands a couple of more punches before taking Rempe down, much to the delight of the home crowd. They are certainly entertained and appreciative of Olivier’s work. Despite the cut, and early Rempe lead in the fight, I score it a decisive win for Mathieu Olivier.

You can’t win them all in your first 1.5 weeks, kid.

The Main Event.

This was one of those fights that everyone knew was going to happen. It’s been a while since a Saturday night fight was a topic of discussion in pre-game analysis, but PK Subban was sure to let everyone know he had the inside track on the likely Rempe-related shenanigans. The die was cast.

Once again, it didn’t take long for Matt Rempe to find his opponent in Toronto’s Ryan Reaves. They first met by the Ranger’s bench early in the first, and Rempe looked first to his coach for approval – to just fuggin’ get it on. Which some missed, and counted as a denial. After getting the nod though, the boys took it out to center ice.

Matt Rempe vs. Ryan Reaves: First Fisticuffs

First, but not last in the grand scheme of things, to be sure. Anyway, Reaves did a nice job of keeping the taller Rempe at bay. Rempe gave Reavo a facefull of left jabs while they were sorta locked up.

As expected, Rempe throws a punch and Reaves takes the opportunity to throw one of his own while Rempe is actually inside of his reach. You can tell Ryan watched some tape on the kid, as the dance he’s doing with Rempe is well choreographed. The crowd is going totally ape shit – and, as they tire each other out, they also give each other “the good fight. I’m friggin’ spent” nod.

Online. this fight online is about as divided as can be. It’s a 41% advantage for Rempe, 39% for Reaves, and 20% draw. I gave a slight advantage to Reavo in this one. I liked his technical ability, and I think he landed more. As always, kudos to him for giving the kid a shot!

Bond Villain Early Identification

Matt “Jaws” Rempe (back to the Richard Kiel reference) had himself a hell of a first week or so in the National Hockey League. Absolutely a jot to watch. He’s fought 4 really tough customers without a flinch, and has about a .500 record.

For me, it’s never been about wins and losses. I love the kid because he’s willing to be the guy that does this job. I love that the veteran guys are giving him a shot, and they’re all still fighting for the sake of fighting.

It encourages me that this sort of thing is still going on in my beloved game. Ryan Reaves said the kid is going to be a menace in the league, and I can’t think of higher praise. If Rempe keeps slugging it out, we’ll keep covering it! You GO, buddy!

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Matt Rempe – Off to a Great Start, Eh?


in Matt Rempe, Hal Gill, Matt Martin

As Stan Fischler pointed out in his Hockey News column, the whole world is talking about New York Rangers forward, Matt Rempe. Or, the Rempire State Building as he’s come to be known. Because he’s like… wicked tall, eh? You get it.

I find Fischler to be crusty. And the only person in the entire world that seems to have a personal problem with Bobby Orr, so that’s clearly an issue, but when the man is right, he’s right.

After the “Skating Giraffe”‘s debut (Fischler’s nickname, not mine – and isn’t that what people used to call Hal Gill?) for the New York Rangers, I can’t blame anyone for being a bit excited about this kid.

Rempe’s Ramp Up

Matt Rempe earned a call up to the Blueshirts from AHL Hartford just last weekend. A common knock on this year’s Rangers team has been – they might be a little soft. Outside of Jake Trouba, who I am still a little salty at for attempting to behead Trent Frederic in November, the criticism has been accurate. One phone call to Hartford, though, and they may have solved their problem.

Matt Rempe Photo - From Yardbarker.com

Last weekend was the NHL’s annual Stadium Series event. It’s an annual outdoor game, or games, to add a little spice to the schedule. This year, they changed it a bit by having 4 teams play over two days, and featured some regional rivals slugging it out at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils played on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers, and the New York Rangers played their hated rivals, The New York Islanders on Sunday.

It’s a cool concept adding in a couple games to a somewhat stale format. I would not have wanted to be on the ice crew as maintaining ice is hard enough outside, never mind trying to have two NHL games on successive days outdoors to keep ice maintained for. Good thing I made the vocational decision I did, eh? Anyway, the Rangers made a call to Hartford for the affair, and Matt Rempe gave them exactly what they wanted.

Matt Rempe: An NHL Debut For the Ages

No one had ever made their NHL debut in an outdoor game until last weekend.

Not only was is Rempe’s first game in the Show, but it came on the 6th anniversary of his father’s death. Matt’s father Ron died from a heart attack while shoveling snow in Calgary 6 years ago. He was said to be a huge hockey guy and a passionate Calgary Flames season ticket holder. The first call Matt probably made when he learned of the callup was to his mom.

Speaking from my own personal experience, I know he would have loved to talk to his dad about the call up as well. I never earned the call Matt got, but I did lose a father and I know during many times in my life, I have reached for the phone for his advice. I can imagine Matt Rempe having some bittersweet feelings about making the NHL, and not having his dad there to cheer him on.

Take a (Rookie) Lap

Sort of a newer tradition in the NHL, is the rookie lap. Basically, whomever is making their NHL debut leads the team to the ice. The rest of the group stays behind and the rookie skates around all by himself. Some guys get a quick turn on their own, and then the boys come out. In Rempe’s case, he was given a long skate on his own.

The kid has a giant smile on his face the whole time, and towards the end, looks over with a laugh to see if the rest of the Rangers are coming out at all. Most of the time this rookie lap is done in front of sparse crowds in an arena that holds 20,000 people. In Rempe’s case he did it outside in a place that holds 80,000. That right there is pretty special.

The game starts and the New York Rangers score very early. Then, at the 18:31 mark on the scoreboard, Matt Rempe makes his NHL debut in an even bigger way. The New York Islanders send out Matt Martin, one of the toughest guys in the National, to set a tone. The puck doesn’t even hit the ice, and these guys are speedin’ off to Diggstown.

Hittin’ the Matts: Rempe vs. Martin

Rempe ties Martin and throws some quick punches. Eventually these guys trade a couple more good shots, but Rempe clearly has a size advantage and does a good job tying Martin up. Good strategy, because if Martin does get loose, he can really hurt you.

Eventually, they get tired and give each other the “that’s enough. Good scrap nod.” Props to Matt Martin for giving the massive 21-year-old a shot, and – win lose or draw – the late Ron Rempe was probably very proud. What a way to start one’s NHL career!

Rempe’s final line in the 6-5 OT win was 9 total shifts for 4:23 in ice time. He spent 5 minutes in the box. Outstanding debut, Matt! More PIM than TOI. That is a stat we here at Goonblog.com can get behind.

A couple of nights later, Rempe was given a Match Penalty for an illegal hit on New Jersey’s Nate Bastian. It was absolutely the right call, but part of the issue is Rempe is 6’8”, so, he’s just going to get calls like that against him sometimes. What’s interesting is, the Rangers were very badly outshot and still won the game. Stats like that tell me the other team could have been playing with their head on a swivel waiting for the next giant hit to be laid.

This further signals that Rempe is already well into doing his job bringing toughness to the Rangers, and we wish him the best of luck in the NHL!

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