Former NHL head coach Bruce Boudreau berates Rutger McGroarty for requesting a trade

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Tyler Ball
August 25, 2024 (10:11 PM)

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Former NHL head coach Bruce Boudreau is known for giving insight on recent NHL topics and today he spoke about Rutger McGroarty's trade request to leave the Jets.

This summer has been filled with drama for the Winnipeg Jets. Early in the summer reports started to come out that Rutger McGroarty the Jets top prospect was unhappy. He eventually requested a trade due to the fact that the Jets would not guarantee him a spot on the NHL roster.

Several months later a trade was finally completed. Rutger McGroarty was sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Penguins top prospect Brayden Yager.

Since then almost every person with a platform in hockey has spoken about the trade. Many have argued that Rutger McGroarty is the better player and he was within his rights as a player to demand a trade away from the Winnipeg Jets. However, one former coach is not on the same page as others.

Bruce Boudreau rips into Rutger McGroarty for his trade request

Bruce Boudreau is known for being a well-respected but hard-nosed coach when coaching in the NHL. So it is no surprise that he has not responded favorably to a player not wanting to earn their spot on an NHL roster.

It drives me nuts, you want to go out there and punch him in the head to be honest, because listen how can we like I mean you went through it, I went through it, all the older guys have gone through it, you got to come and make the team, you can't be given the spot right away, he said.

I was reading that about McGroarty today that they wouldn't guarantee, Winipeg wouldn't guarantee him a spot at the start of the season and that's one of the reasons he wanted to get traded, it's it just drives me crazy, I just think you have to earn your earn your spot...You have to go in there and earn a spot rather than come in and have the spot already there

These comments are collectively how I think many fans and media throughout the NHL potentially feel. Rutger McGroarty is a fantastic player and had every right to use his power of going to the NCAA to his advantage. However, the way that he used it will now create doubts about his character and work ethic which he will continue to have to answer for.

Source: Hockey Feed
Bruce Boudreau blasts Rutger McGroarty after trade to Pittsburgh