Defensive issues may hold Rutger McGroarty back from NHL debut to start the new season

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Tom Banks
September 30, 2024 (1:34 PM)

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The Pittsburgh Penguins made a huge deal this summer when they acquired Rutger McGroarty, but now he may begin the season in the NHL to fix some of his issues.

Rutger McGroarty's issues in Winnipeg were a huge story in the NHL this off-season, and now after joining the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team may have realized, just like the Jets that he's not NHL ready after all. While many were quick to pencil him in the lineup alongside either Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby, that may not happen after all as the team may make a surprise move to start the 2024/25 season.

According to reports, the Penguins are considering starting McGroarty in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre Penguins early in the season, and given the way he handled the situation in Winnipeg, this is a move that many people around the league would certainly enjoy seeing. It's not the attitude issues holding him back however, but rather his defensive liabilities, as the team believe he needs to get better in that area before he gets a key role in this forward group.

Offensively, the speed, the hockey IQ and the skill are off the charts, and it's highly likely that McGroarty can turn into a star under the guidance of Crosby and Malkin, but until he learns to play hard and smart at both ends of the floor, he won't have a huge role for this team. With the regular season starting off in the next week, we will see how Mike Sullivan and the Penguins coaching staff want to play this, because McGroarty has the offensive upside to start in the NHL, but if they truly want what's best for his future, a humbling trip to the AHL is likely the best way to go about it.

Source: Blade of Steel
Entitled Prospect Rutger McGroarty Could Be Starting The Season In The AHL Due To One Deficiency In His Game