‘I wasn’t going to be signing with them’: Rutger McGroarty on why he wanted the Winnipeg Jets to trade him

A week after the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired 2022 first-round pick Rutger McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for 2023 first-round pick Braden Yager, the newest Penguins prospect spoke with reporters in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

When a reporter asked McGroarty directly why he didn’t want to go Winnipeg, the 20-year-old gave a direct answer, albeit one that might have been short on details.

“My agents talked to them, then I talked to them, and I wanted to be upfront and honest with them, and tell them I wasn’t going to be signing for them,” McGroarty said. “I got nothing but respect for those guys. They handled it with a lot of class. And I wish them nothing but the best.”

Shortly after the trade, McGroarty signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins, ending his NCAA career with the University of Michigan, where he spent the last two seasons. He scored 34 goals and 57 assists for 92 points in 75 games.

He announced in April he would return to Michigan for the 2024-25 season, and reports out of Winnipeg indicated he and the Jets did not agree on his developmental path. However, now signed with Pittsburgh, he says he can’t wait to begin his professional career.

“I feel like everything’s right here – the development path, the veteran guys that they have, the organization that they have and the town as well,” McGroarty said. “I went to a (Pittsburgh) Pirates game on Monday, like, the sports town atmosphere is unbelievable.

“I feel like I come to the rink every single day, work extremely hard and do everything with intent, and then hopefully drag other guys across the line with you and help them get better,” he added.