In an offseason stuffed with smaller strikes, Pittsburgh Penguins normal supervisor (GM) Kyle Dubas made a giant transfer for a prime prospect. On Aug. 22, he traded for Rutger McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets, giving up one in every of his prime prospects, Brayden Yager. Whereas the transfer was a little bit of a shock for a lot of, it signifies that Dubas is trying to not solely try to hold his staff aggressive but additionally wanting towards the longer term, with McGroarty being the participant who helps lead it.
What the Penguins Are Getting in McGroarty
All through the offseason, there have been many rumors of McGroarty wanting out of Winnipeg, and people rumors of a transfer lastly got here to fruition when the Jets and Penguins linked up for a commerce. Whereas he has not performed any video games within the NHL but, the 14th decide of the 2022 NHL Draft has had excessive ranges of success at each step alongside the best way. Whether or not it’s in AAA hockey with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, the place he racked up 160 factors in solely 63 video games, his time in World Juniors tournaments (performed in two U18 and two U20 tournaments a bit), or with the College of Michigan, he has been the most effective gamers at every stage he has been at.
With McGroarty, the Penguins are usually not solely getting a participant who might be an offensive drive when he’s on the ice but additionally a participant who can chip in on the defensive facet of the sport. He has proven no concern of throwing his physique round and getting concerned within the bodily side of the sport, and he goes to the soiled areas of the ice to assist make a play. This mixture of enjoying kinds makes him a menace in all three zones of the ice.
His offensive recreation is the place his play shines, although. He has a stable capacity to manage the play with or with out the puck on his stick. He’s a relentless employee and causes chaos when he does have the puck on his stick. His robust hockey IQ has helped him turn out to be an all-around playmaker offensively whereas possessing a high-level shot. Whereas there have been excessive hopes for the staff’s 2023 first-round decide, Brayden Yager, transferring him for a participant like McGroarty ended up being too laborious to move up on. He’s nearer to being impactful within the NHL, has a bit extra of an edge to his recreation, and has greater potential upside.
McGroarty’s Influence This Season
Whereas there isn’t any assure he’ll make the NHL roster out of coaching camp, McGroarty ought to have the ability to make a stable case to take action. Seeing the place he slots in will surely be fascinating if he had been to make the roster. With the upside he brings to a lineup, it could be laborious to see him enjoying a bottom-six function for the Penguins this season, so he would probably slot in on one of many prime two ahead traces.
Associated: Grading Penguins’ Commerce for Rutger McGroarty
The power and enjoying fashion he brings would turn out to be a welcomed addition to the Penguins’ getting old roster. His offensive recreation would slot in properly with Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby. He would vastly profit from enjoying on a line with a participant of that stature, not just for manufacturing functions but additionally for studying the way to be a real skilled participant and dealing with the strain of being one.
If Dubas and head coach Mike Sullivan decide that McGroarty just isn’t fairly able to influence the NHL lineup as they hope and count on him to, then there’s a likelihood he’ll begin the season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and earn himself some top-line minutes within the American Hockey League (AHL) as a substitute.
Penguins Future Begins with McGroarty
With the Penguins as soon as once more having one of many oldest rosters within the NHL, trying to the longer term is clearly at the back of the thoughts of Dubas. And in all actuality, that future appears to start with McGroarty. The upside he possesses can be appeared upon to assist lead the Penguins into the longer term, and if he can crack the lineup proper out of camp or throughout the season, it can mark the start of the group’s future. With a handful of different prospects within the Penguins’ system being shut to creating an influence on the large membership (Owen Pickering, Vasily Ponomarev), in addition to a number of children on the roster already (Drew O’Connor, Valtteri Puustinen), the longer term continues to get nearer to being a actuality in Pittsburgh.
