Former Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty bashes team at Penguins press conference

PUBLICATION

Daniel Lucente
August 30, 2024 (4:20 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

Rutger McGroarty was introduced to the Pittsburgh media for the first time since his trade, and he definitely took shots at his former club, the Winnipeg Jets.

The topic of why Rutger McGroarty opted out of the Winnipeg Jets, the NHL team that drafted him in the first round just a couple of years ago, was one in which he showed little interest on Wednesday afternoon.

In his first comments since being traded to Pittsburgh last week in exchange for fellow first-round pick Brayden Yager, Rutger McGroarty spoke little about what ultimately drove him to become the Penguins' newest prospect.

"I wanted to be upfront and honest with them, and I just told them that I wasn't going to be signing with them," McGroarty told reporters. "I've got nothing but respect for those guys. They handled it with a lot of class, and I wish them nothing but the best, but I'm fired up to get started here now."

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff did offer some insight Wednesday, talking about a meeting at the NHL Combine back in June between Rutger McGroarty's camp and himself. According to Cheveldayoff, McGroarty told him "it didn't feel right" to commit to Winnipeg.

On Wednesday, McGroarty spoke about Pittsburgh's development plans for him, and sources back in June indicated that was indeed not happy with Winnipeg's developmental path, which is what led him to be traded to Pittsburgh.

But Rutger McGroarty did say that the only thing he's been guaranteed by Pittsburgh so far is a spot in this year's upcoming rookie tournament, and he will no doubt still have to earn the right to start the season with the NHL club.

"I feel like I'm going to get what I deserve and I'm going to come ready to work for camp," he said. "I like where my game is at right now. I'm excited to get to camp and hopefully leave a good impression on them."

Speaking more on the Penguins, Rutger McGroarty said he believed they had everything he needed.

"The development path, the veteran guys they have here, the organization that they have here," he said. "It's such a sports town. Even the couple days that I've been here, I went to a Pirates game on Monday, it's been awesome. The sports-town atmosphere is unbelievable."

Just a few weeks after the trade, Rutger McGroarty opted not to return to the University of Michigan for the 2024-25 season and signed a three-year entry-level contract with Pittsburgh instead.

If Rutger McGroarty has a strong camp and makes the Penguins' NHL roster, he'll return to Winnipeg with the team on October 20th to play against the Jets at Canada Life Centre.

Rutger McGroarty was the 14th overall pick of the Winnipeg Jets at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He has yet to play in an NHL regular season game.

Source:
Spinorama Hockey on X

Source: NHL.com
Rutger McGroarty Stats