Rangers rookie Adam Edstrom is fine with playing in Matt Rempe's shadow
Adam Edstrom #84 and Matt Rempe #73 of the Rangers look on in the second period against the Dallas Stars at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
His fellow Hartford call-up, Matt Rempe, is the darling of the city right now, with all the buzz about his exploits in the fight game. But playing in Rempe’s shadow is quite alright for Rangers left wing Adam Edstrom.
“No, I don't mind it at all,’’ he said at the optional morning skate at Madison Square Garden Wednesday before the Rangers played the Columbus Blue Jackets. “[Rempe] does his thing and he should get a lot of attention for that. He plays a physical game and it's not an easy job. He has to go out there and fight some of the toughest guys in the league every night. So I respect him a lot for that, and he's a good friend of mine. So I'm just happy for him.’’
Edstrom, a 6-7 forward from Sweden, is the other giant wing on the Rangers’ fourth line, playing the left side of a trio that has the 6-8 Rempe on the right with 6-2 Barclay Goodrow in the middle.
Edstrom scored the Rangers’ second goal in Sunday’s 4-2 loss in Columbus when his centering pass for Rempe bounced in off the skate of a Blue Jackets defender.
It was the rookie's second goal in eight games for the Rangers. He scored in his NHL debut Dec. 15 when he was called up to fill in for Nick Bonino.
Edstrom and Rempe have added an element of physicality to the fourth line with the way they forecheck. Edstrom had 22 hits in his eight games, while Rempe had 12 in his five.
“We play a physical game, and that's what we're trying to do up here, too,’’ Edstrom said. “We're trying to hit whenever we get the chance and then disrupt and play with our bodies and play a physical game.’’
Edstrom, who had eight goals and 10 points in 25 games for Hartford, also killed penalties for the Wolf Pack. Peter Laviolette said there’s a chance he could be asked to do that for the Rangers at some point, as well.
“He sits in all the meetings and we're working with him and teaching with him,’’ Laviolette said. “We’ll continue to teach him and prepare him and get him ready.’’
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
