Pittsburgh Penguins Make Early Season Decision On Rutger McGroarty

The Pittsburgh Penguins made an interesting trade in the offseason, swapping former first rounder Brayden Yager for former first rounder of the Winnipeg Jets, Rutger McGroarty.

The interesting part of this trade was that the Penguins probably could've gotten more in return. While the team got a good talent one year older than Yager, McGroarty said he wasn't going to sign in Winnipeg and the Jets didn't have much leverage.

McGroarty made the Penguins out of training camp. He scored 16 goals and 52 points in 36 games in his final season in the NCAA, but the 20-year-old had a tough time getting any scoring done in his three games. The Penguins gave him his first taste of the NHL and has now been sent down to the AHL to play for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.

The #pens have assigned Rutger McGroarty to AHL Wilkes-Barre.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 16, 2024

Not only was the three games for the Penguins McGroarty's first taste of the NHL, but pro hockey as well. The Penguins are in the midst of a season in which they are looking for any depth help or secondary scoring after last season. The team was hoping McGroarty would be that right off the bat, but overall, it's not a bad idea at all by Pittsburgh to have him play top minutes in the AHL to get accustomed to the speed a bit.

The Penguins hope that McGroarty can turn into the player he's expected to be, but it's better not to rush anyone like the team is doing.