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.
"I wanted to be upfront and honest with them, and I just told them that I wasn't going to be signing with them," McGroarty told reporters. "I've got nothing but respect for those guys. They handled it with a lot of class, and I wish them nothing but the best, but I'm fired up to get started here now."
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.
"I feel like I'm going to get what I deserve and I'm going to come ready to work for camp," he said. "I like where my game is at right now. I'm excited to get to camp and hopefully leave a good impression on them."
Rutger McGroarty wasn't worried about Pittsburgh, though, as he mentioned they have everything he needs for his development as a player.
"The development path, the veteran guys they have here, the organization that they have here," he said. "It's such a sports town. Even the couple days that I've been here, I went to a Pirates game on Monday, it's been awesome. The sports-town atmosphere is unbelievable."
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
Former Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty bashes team at Penguins press conference
Source: Elite Prospects
Rutger McGroarty Stats
Rutger McGroarty Stats
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