Penguins Prospects: Why Everyone Might be Wrong on Rutger McGroarty (+)

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Winnipeg Jets fans jeered Rutger McGroarty when Winnipeg faced the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 22, and the player wasn’t even on the Penguins roster at the time.

“Where is Rutger,” fans chanted to mock the player who spurned Winnipeg after being drafted 14th overall in 2022.

McGroarty was another budding star from Michigan University’s hockey factory. Big Blue produced 2021 first-round pick Owen Power (Buffalo) and several other high-first-round picks, including Frank Nazar, whom the Chicago Blackhawks selected 13th overall in 2022.

McGroarty was supposed to be a goal-scorer with a high hockey IQ and a good shot. He averaged just shy of .5 goals per game in his time at Michigan, which is important because he decided to stay at Michigan unless Winnipeg traded him or he reached free agency.

Local reporting long indicated that the Manitoba beef between the NHL club and the player was McGroarty’s insistence that he start his pro career in the NHL, which Winnipeg refused.

So, when the Penguins freed him from the icy palace on the plains by parting with their own top prospect, Brayden Yager (an aggressive but perhaps necessary overpay, but that’s a discussion for another day), expectations that he would begin his career in the NHL quickly surrounded McGroarty.

In full disclosure, both McGroarty and the Jets denied the reports of his demands, and McGroarty publicly admitted he would accept a minor league assignment with Pittsburgh if he weren’t ready for the big show.

“I’ve been promised a spot in the rookie tournament, and that’s about it,” said McGroarty in July. “I feel like I’ll get what I deserve. I’m going to come ready to work for camp. I like where my game is at right now.”

The quest for NHL ice began, but it seems lots of people had it wrong—way wrong.