Rutger McGroarty has been traded from the Winnipeg Jets to the Pittsburgh Penguins. McGroarty came out earlier this off-season saying that he was wanting a guaranteed spot in the Jets lineup. Which is what started the rumors of him wanting a trade out of Winnipeg. The full trade is down below:
| To Winnipeg | To Pittsburgh |
| Brayden Yager | Rutger McGroarty |
Rutger McGroarty’s Fit On Penguins
The Penguins are one of the oldest teams in the league. So adding Rutger McGroarty makes a lot of sense for this team. He will have a clear shot at least a middle six role this year if he elects to rescind his commitment to Michigan after the trade. While the likely outcome is that he goes to Michigan and plays a year and they try to get him in the lineup for the 2025-26 season. When he does arrive he will make the Penguins lineup better. His tenacity on the forecheck paired with his skill will make him a great player for years to come.
The Return For The Jets
The Winnipeg Jets were kind of in a sticky situation when it came to McGroarty. They had a very good prospect that did not want to sign with the team unless he had a guaranteed roster spot in the NHL. Somehow GM Kevin Cheveldayoff turned that into another amazing prospect in Brayden Yager. Yager is a prairie boy from Saskatoon that put up 35 goals and 95 points in just 57 games for Moose Jaw of the WHL. He also added 11 goals and 27 points in 20 playoff games to help Moose Jaw win the WHL championship. The Winnipeg Jets did as well as you could do for having a prospect forcing your hand.
While Brayden Yager most likely won’t be on the Jets this season, it opens up the door for a great 1-2 center punch of Lambert and Yager in the future. Today it seems as though both teams will be happy with their new player. Only time will tell if there is a winner of this trade. Next the Jets will need to get Cole Perfetti signed before the season starts.
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