New Pittsburgh Penguins' Rutger McGroarty roasts the Winnipeg Jets in new press conference
Being introduced to the Pittsburgh Penguins media for the first time, Rutger McGroarty took some parting shots at his former team, the Winnipeg Jets.
Rutger McGroarty wasn't interested in talking about leaving the Winnipeg Jets, the team that drafted him in the first round a couple of years ago, on Wednesday. In his first public comments since being dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for fellow first-round pick Brayden Yager, McGroarty didn't shed a tonne of light on why he's changing addresses.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff helped to clarify things, at least, by recounting a conversation from June's NHL Combine. Rutger McGroarty brought up he was "nervous" about committing to Winnipeg, saying "it didn't feel right." June reports revealed that McGroarty was not pleased with the development plans the Jets had in place for him, which likely played a part in trading him to Pittsburgh.
Asked about his future with the Penguins, Rutger McGroarty spoke to the organization's plans for his development, but he made a point to say all he had been promised was a spot in the upcoming rookie tournament, emphasizing he would still have to fight for a place on the NHL roster.
Rutger McGroarty wasn't worried about Pittsburgh, though, as he mentioned they have everything he needs for his development as a player.
Not long after the trade, Rutger McGroarty decided not to return to the University of Michigan for the 2024-25 season, instead signing a three-year entry-level contract with Pittsburgh. If McGroarty impresses at camp and makes the Penguins' NHL roster, he could be in line to face his old team in Winnipeg on October 20th at Canada Life Centre.
Rutger McGroarty was selected 14th overall by the Jets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and has yet to make his debut in the NHL.
Source: House of Hockey
Former Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty bashes team at Penguins press conference
Source: Elite Prospects
Rutger McGroarty Stats
| POLL | ||
AOÛT 31 | 145 ANSWERS New Pittsburgh Penguins' Rutger McGroarty roasts the Winnipeg Jets in new press conference Will Rutger McGroarty become an NHL star one day? | ||
| Yes | 33 | 22.8 % |
| No | 112 | 77.2 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Zachary Werenski | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| Sean Monahan | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jesper Bratt | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Frederick Gaudreau | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Jack Hughes | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Nikita Kucherov | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Mackenzie Weegar | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Kent Johnson | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Alexander Wennberg | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Mitchell Chaffee | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Anthony Cirelli | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matthew Coronato | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Marcus Foligno | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Nick Foligno | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Conor Geekie | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Brandon Hagel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Stefan Noesen | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Corey Perry | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Igor Sharangovich | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Dmitry Voronkov | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 19 | 16 | 3 | - | 32 | |
Wild | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 29 | |
Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 5 | - | 28 | |
Devils | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 27 | |
Golden Knights | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
Flames | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||