The Pittsburgh Penguins made news this week by trading their top prospect, Brayden Yager, to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Rutger McGroarty, a player who had shown little interest in staying with the Jets.
The reasoning behind the Jets shopping McGroarty for the past few months is clear, but why would the Penguins trade Yager, a promising center, for a winger prospect? What's the logic behind this move?
There are a couple of possibilities.
First, the Penguins might believe McGroarty has a higher ceiling and is more NHL-ready. Alternatively, they could see the value in McGroarty while feeling that Yager isn't developing as expected. Either way, both teams gain quality prospects with significant potential.
The Penguins wasted no time in securing McGroarty, signing him to a 3-year entry-level contract with a $950K cap hit and an average annual value (AAV) of $1.45 million.
Now, the question is:
Could Rutger McGroarty crack the Penguins top six in 2024-25?
While it may seem like a long shot to some, the reality is that the Penguins have not significantly improved their top six since trading Jake Guentzel last season.
Although Drew O'Connor has performed fine alongside Sidney Crosby, fans generally regard him as more suitable for the bottom six—a crucial area the Penguins need to strengthen if aiming for a playoff berth in 2025.
Rutger McGroarty is projected to be a top-six caliber talent and is NHL-ready now. He could break into the lineup by the time the team faces the New York Rangers on October 9th.
Could McGroarty join Crosby and Rust on the top line?
There is a realistic possibility of McGroarty joining the Malkin line, but Rickard Rakell's effective pairing with Geno last year suggests that McGroarty might be best suited alongside Crosby, as surprising as that may seem.
McGroarty's potential to slot in with Crosby is supported by his impressive track record. As a standout sophomore at the University of Michigan, he tallied 52 points, showcasing his playmaking abilities with 36 assists and adding 16 goals in just 36 games in 2023-24.
His performance wasn't just limited to college hockey; he also captained the U.S. team to a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he contributed 5 goals and 4 assists.
A top line featuring McGroarty, Crosby, and Ryan Rust would certainly be interesting.