Kyle Dubas opens up about his decision to trade for Rutger McGroarty

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Daniel Lucente
August 22, 2024 (8:43 PM)

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Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has revealed why he decided to trade for Rutger McGroarty, and it appears he feels that he can have a greater impact than Brayden Yager.

Rutger McGroarty is a highly skilled and promising young hockey player, and has recently garnered a lot of attention. This is due to the trade completed between the Winnipeg Jets and the Pittsburgh Penguins which has shocked the hockey world.

Rutger McGroarty has established himself as a standout talent in his junior career, earning high praise for his exceptional skills and remarkable track record. As one of the most promising forward prospects for the Jets, before he was traded by them, he has shown he has great talent on the ice. During his sophomore season at the University of Michigan, he impressed scouts and coaches by finishing 9th among NCAA players with an impressive 52 points, consisting of 16 goals and 36 assists. Notably, at just 20 years old, he not only contributed on the score sheet but also assumed the role of captain as he led the United States to clinch the gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship (WJC).

In a recent statement, Kyle Dubas, the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, provided insight into his thought process behind the trade. During his speech, he recognized Brayden Yager as not only an outstanding individual but also an incredibly promising NHL prospect that the Jets are lucky to be getting.

In 2022, the Winnipeg Jets selected Rutger McGroarty as the 14th overall pick in the NHL Draft. Brayden Yager, on the other hand, was chosen by Pittsburgh as the 14th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Yager had a standout season by scoring 35 goals and 60 assists in 57 games for Moose Jaw in the Western Hockey League (WHL) last year.

During the 2024 World Junior Championship (WJC), Brayden Yager showed off his talent by scoring two goals and adding three assists in five games while representing Canada. His performance at the 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase further solidified his potential as a key player for the upcoming 2025 WJC in Ottawa, Ontario.

Brayden Yager's potential did not go unnoticed, as the Pittsburgh Penguins signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract on July 24. There is great anticipation surrounding his opportunity to play for the Jets next year and fans cannot wait to see him lace up those skates.

It's worth noting that Kyle Dubas has displayed a strong preference for Rutger McGroarty over Brayden Yager. Nevertheless, both players have bright NHL careers ahead of them. The Jets' decision to acquire Yager is proof that they saw something strong in him that they wanted for the future of the franchise.

Source:
Chris Johnston on X

Source: HockeyDB
Rutger McGroarty Stats

Source: Hockey-Reference
Brayden Yager Stats