Matt Rempe’s lightning-quick Rangers return comes with critical development question

The Rangers sent Matt Rempe to Hartford for a couple of AHL games under the guise of believing it was the most beneficial thing for the 6-foot-8 ½ forward at that moment in time.

And yet, four days later, Rempe was back on the MSG Training Center ice with the Blueshirts.

Rempe wasn’t just skating as an extra, either, but in preparation to play on the right wing of the fourth line against the Capitals Tuesday night in Washington. It will count as his third NHL game of the season.

The 22-year-old takes everything in stride. This AHL assignment was no different.

The Rangers say they want Rempe to become a more complete player, but playing him five minutes a night on average and only deploying him against heavier teams with fighters can pigeonhole the Big No. 73 into the enforcer role the team has actively indicated they don’t want.

“No, we have anywhere from 21, 22, 23 players on our roster on any given night,” head coach Peter Laviolette said in response to that notion after practice on Monday. “We’re going to put the roster in that we feel gives us the best chance of being successful. Doesn’t mean it has to happen that way, injuries happen through the course of the year.