The Pittsburgh Penguins made a bold move last week by acquiring prospect Rutger McGroarty, trading away their top prospect, Brayden Yager, to make the deal happen.
McGroarty, 20, was in Pittsburgh for the organization's rookie tournament and training camp, where he spoke to the Penguins media for the first time since the trade. Many questions centered around his strained relationship with the Winnipeg Jets and whether he's ready to step into the NHL. McGroarty shared that he's only been guaranteed a spot in the upcoming prospect tournament, but he's eager to prove he's ready for more.
McGroarty, the 14th overall pick in the 2022 draft, excelled during his last two seasons with the University of Michigan, scoring 34 goals and 91 points in 75 games.
However, some hockey fans were disappointed by reports of McGroarty's attitude issues with the Jets and his reluctance to fight for his place in Winnipeg. Now, he has a great opportunity to play alongside aging stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin-if he can get his mindset right.
POLL | ||
30 AOUT | 118 ANSWERS Kyle Dubas makes a promise to newly acquired forward Rutger McGroarty How many games does Rutger McGroarty play with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season? | ||
None | 24 | 20.3 % |
Less then 30 | 58 | 49.2 % |
Less then 60 | 24 | 20.3 % |
60+ | 12 | 10.2 % |
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