Penguins future starts with Rutger McGroarty – Hockey Writers – Penguins prospects

In an offseason full of small moves, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager (GM) Kyle Dubas made a big move for a top prospect. On August 22, he traded Rutger McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets, giving up one of his top prospects, Brayden Yager. Although this move surprised many, it means that Dubas is not only looking to keep his team competitive but also looking to the future, with McGroarty as the player to help lead it.

What the Penguins Get from McGroarty

Throughout the off-season, there were many rumors that McGroarty wanted out of Winnipeg, and those rumors of a move finally came true when the Jets and Penguins linked a trade. Although he hasn't played any games in the NHL yet, the 14th pick of the 2022 NHL Draft has had high levels of success every step of the way. Whether in AAA hockey with Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, where he accumulated 160 points in only 63 games, his time in the World Juniors tournaments (he played in two U18 tournaments and two U20 tournaments a piece), or with the University of Michigan, has been one of the best players at each level since in it.

With McGroarty, the Penguins are not only getting a player who can be an offensive force on the ice but also a player who can step in on the defensive side of the game. He has shown he is not afraid to throw his body around and engage in the physical aspect of the game, and goes to dirty areas of the ice to help make plays. This mix of playing styles makes him a threat in all three areas of the ice.

His offensive game is where his play shines, however. He has a strong ability to control the play with or without the puck in his possession. He is a tireless worker and creates chaos when he has a stick in his hand. His strong hockey IQ has helped him become a versatile player offensively while playing at a high level. Although there were high hopes for this team's 2023 first-round pick, Brayden Yager, moving him to a player like McGroarty ended up being too much to trust. He's close to making an impact in the NHL, has more edge to his game, and has a lot of upside.

McGroarty's Impact This Season

While there's no guarantee he'll make the NHL roster in training camp, McGroarty should be able to make a strong case to do so. Seeing where he fits in would be interesting if he makes the list. With the height he brings to the roster, it would be hard to see him playing a bottom-six role for the Penguins this season, so it's possible he'll slot into one of the two forward lines.

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The energy and style of play he brings would be a welcome addition to an aging Penguins roster. His offensive game would fit in well with Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby. He would benefit greatly from playing on a line with a player of that caliber, not only for production purposes but also learning how to be a real professional player and handle the pressure of being one.

If Dubas and head coach Mike Sullivan decide McGroarty isn't ready to make the impact on an NHL roster as they hope and expect him to, then there's a chance he could start the season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and find himself at the top. -line up minutes in the American Hockey League (AHL) instead.

The future of the Penguins starts with McGroarty

With the Penguins once again having one of the oldest rosters in the NHL, looking to the future is at the back of Dubas' mind. And in fact, that future seems to start with McGroarty. His upside will be looked upon to help lead the Penguins into the future, and if he can crack the roster out of camp or during the season, it will mark the beginning of the organization's future. With a number of other prospects in the Penguins program close to making an impact on the big club (Owen Pickering, Vasily Ponomarev), and a few youngsters already on the roster (Drew O'Connor, Valtteri Puustinen), the future continues to move closer to becoming a reality in Pittsburgh.