‘Just Another Guy’ Penguins’ McGroarty Battle Begins, Admits 1st Purchase After Contract

CRANBERRY — The Pittsburgh Penguins’ top-ranked prospect, Rutger McGroarty, admitted he had a unique path before signing with the Penguins last month, though those who live vicariously through athletes or imagine the spoils of being a well-paid young athlete might be disappointed.

The grounded 20-year-old, whom the Penguins acquired in a surprise trade for previous top prospect Brayden Yager, was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets 14th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft but resisted their attempts to sign him, opting to remain at the University of Michigan for a couple of seasons. While McGroarty rebuffed reports that he insisted on an NHL role before agreeing to leave school, it appears he’ll get that NHL chance with the Penguins.

McGroarty’s beaming smile as he signed his entry-level contract delighted Penguins fans and the player, but he didn’t exactly burn up the internet on a shopping spree.

“Honestly? Chipotle. I need Airpods, too. So, as soon as we get to Buffalo, I’m going to get Airpods,” he said. “My whole life, I need to save money; I don’t like to spend too much unless it’s (a gift) for my sister, girlfriend, friends, or family.”

Yep, the biggest thing he bought after signing his first professional contract, which will pay him $950,000 annually, was earbuds. In fairness, they can run about $200, but it speaks to the character of the player who was the captain of the gold-medal-winning Team USA at the 2024 World Junior Championships.

No word if he orders off the regular or secret Chipotle menu.

To hockey matters, neither the team nor McGroarty has promised he’ll be in a Penguins sweater when the regular season begins Oct. 9. Expectations are high for the winger who can play the right or left wing and was recently ranked as one of the top 23 players under 23 by Sportsnet, but expectations are a fact of life in professional sports. Learning to handle them or put them in perspective is an important first step.

“I’m honestly really excited. It was obviously a unique path to get here, but it was fun, and I honestly enjoyed a lot of it,” said McGroaty. “But now we’re here, and I’m just another guy at camp–I’m coming in and trying to prove myself. I’m going to work as hard as I can and play my game. I’m feeling good about myself right now, so I’m excited.”

It was a deft move by Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas to trade Yager, whose ranking on many prospect lists paled in comparison.

After acquiring several reclamation projects via free agency and trade, McGroarty represents the first potential cornerstone of the next era of Penguins hockey. He hasn’t yet met c, who soaked up the last few days of summer vacation before arriving in Las Vegas this week for the NHL media tour.

Rest assured, McGroarty is looking forward to that meeting. He’s also been on the ice with other Penguins, including Bryan Rust and Erik Karlsson, and it seems he understood the cardinal rule—don’t act like a newbie.

“It’s going to take the first couple of times. It took a little bit getting used to (but) I’m trying to play in the NHL, as well, So I can’t be too starstruck,” McGroaty said. “I want to be their teammates one day, and so I just kind of look at them as just really good hockey players.”

Many Penguins prospects will wear a Penguins sweater against competition for the first time Friday as the team begins the three-game Prospects Challenge tournament against the Boston Bruins’ prospect team at noon. They will play the Ottawa Senators’ squad at noon on Saturday and the Buffalo Sabres’ prospects on Monday at 5 p.m.

Read More: Penguins Prospects Challenge Schedule; Details Released

Coach Kirk MacDonald, the new Wilkes-Barre/Scranton bench boss, may scramble the line combinations and defensive pairings, but McGroarty figures to be a front-line player in the tournament and a central figure in training camp, which begins in five days.

The opportunity is as clear as it is enormous. Perhaps he’ll have a bigger celebration for his first NHL goal than his first contract. In the meantime, easy there, big spender.