That was just one piece of Rempe's offseason education, which also included nearly daily power skating and working with New York Rangers veteran Chris Kreider on tipping pucks in front of the net. The 22-year-old Rempe goes into his first full season expecting to be better at hockey — with and without his gloves on.

It was a busy offseason of training, interviews and autograph appearances for New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe, a sudden celebrity of sorts around Manhattan, who last season captured the hearts for his penchant for fighting and riling up the opponent.

Matt Rempe was fighting and Georges Laraque did not like what he saw. “He was getting hit way too much in the face,” Laraque said. Laraque would know. Over the course of more than 150 fights in the NHL,

Matt Rempe was fighting and Georges Laraque did not like what he saw. "He was getting hit way too much in the face," Laraque said. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment,