F Rutger McGroarty - University of Michigan, NCAA (2022, 14th, WPG; traded to PIT)

[Turin]

5 points in 5 preseason games, playing mostly with Eller and Puljujarvi. Can’t see how he doesn’t make the team at this point.

 

[WickedWrister]

5 points in 5 preseason games, playing mostly with Eller and Puljujarvi. Can’t see how he doesn’t make the team at this point.

6 in 6, same stat line as McDavid lol (2 more GP )

 

[66-30-33]

6 in 6, same stat line as McDavid lol (2 more GP )

View attachment 912552

Look who's preseason leader.

 

[WickedWrister]

In all seriousness though, I thought McGroarty has played well in the preseason and should make the team as the 3LW if it were based purely on merit. It looks like it's trending that way but we'll see when final cuts are made.

His biggest weakness is still his skating, not a very efficient stride but he gets to where he wants to go well enough. I'd term it as average I guess. He makes up for his lack of footspeed in the breakout with these nifty one touch passes. Good anticipation, positioning, vision, and passing ability to create chances once he's in the offensive zone.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDo]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1842361954746134707

https://x.com/i/web/status/1842373813809594610

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Supposedly the Jets are a team full of all stars, and he wouldn’t have been good enough to play for them this season in the NHL.

 

[Whis]

Supposedly the Jets are a team full of all stars, and he wouldn’t have been good enough to play for them this season in the NHL.

The Jets are going to put Lambert and Chibrikov in the minors who are both close enough level to Rutger. Crazy strategy - NHL development not being the strategy boggles my brain.

 

[Whileee]

The Jets are going to put Lambert and Chibrikov in the minors who are both close enough level to Rutger. Crazy strategy - NHL development not being the strategy boggles my brain.

Jets LW depth... Connor, Ehlers, Perfetti, Niederreiter, Barron, Chibrikov. Ehlers shifted over to RW.

Other wingers... Vilardi, Appleton, Iafallo

 

[WickedWrister]

Rutger makes the opening day lineup

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Was very good in preseason but is far from a finished product. He’s going to need to play well in the first 5 games to hold his spot when Rust and Lizette come back, as he is the only F on the roster who doesn’t need waivers. But not out of the question.

Not on PP2 though, which is dumb.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Not on PP2 though, which is dumb.

Yeah, if you're gonna give him a taste, put him in a position to succeed...especially since a power play player (these days...) went down. But things change, maybe he'll find his way onto it...get him even more confident at being able to handle this speed and then if/when he goes back down, he'll have a better sense about what he needs to do in the A...

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Yeah, if you're gonna give him a taste, put him in a position to succeed...especially since a power play player (these days...) went down. But things change, maybe he'll find his way onto it...get him even more confident at being able to handle this speed and then if/when he goes back down, he'll have a better sense about what he needs to do in the A...

Going to be interesting to see him in RS.

Preseason would indicate a guy who is not fazed by speed of the game or where to be but is weaker than his peers at this level. Makes me wonder about how well he can play his style given he wants to be behind the net, at the net front, and in the slot all shift.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Going to be interesting to see him in RS.

Preseason would indicate a guy who is not fazed by speed of the game or where to be but is weaker than his peers at this level. Makes me wonder about how well he can play his style given he wants to be behind the net, at the net front, and in the slot all shift.

Yeah, I agree. I thought he held up well. Then again, Puljujarvi was a game away from spinning the puck on his finger haha

We'll see pretty quickly how it looks. I'm still skeptical that he should be a regular NHLer right now, but I'll root for him to have a 200 point season. Seems fairly likely that he'll be a top call up when injuries occur. Maybe we'll get a look here for a week or two...then go down...then in the dog days of January if we have like a 4 in 5 set or something, bring him up for a little bit and see where he's at...then back down.

Or...ya know...the 200 point season thing is fine too...

 

[Heldig]

Supposedly the Jets are a team full of all stars, and he wouldn’t have been good enough to play for them this season in the NHL.

Yes, that's what the trade demand was about.

And the Jets DO have pretty good depth on the wing. Enough that they were not going to gift him a roster spot.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Yes, that's what the trade demand was about.

And the Jets DO have pretty good depth on the wing. Enough that they were not going to gift him a roster spot.

They really don’t. They have like 3 or 4 wingers that would make me not gift a spot to an NHL ready first round pick. They have a lot of middle of the league roster filler. Maybe that’s why they don’t succeed in the playoffs. How about taking a different strategy for once and trying to develop some difference makers?

 

[Eegs]

They really don’t. They have like 3 or 4 wingers that would make me not gift a spot to an NHL ready first round pick. They have a lot of middle of the league roster filler. Maybe that’s why they don’t succeed in the playoffs. How about taking a different strategy for once and trying to develop some difference makers?

Who says they weren't trying to develop him?? They had a plan for his development that he didn't like.

 

[Fatass]

They really don’t. They have like 3 or 4 wingers that would make me not gift a spot to an NHL ready first round pick. They have a lot of middle of the league roster filler. Maybe that’s why they don’t succeed in the playoffs. How about taking a different strategy for once and trying to develop some difference makers?

It might be better for this kid to develop his game in the A. He’s not a superstar who is nhl ready to contribute at an elite level offensively that covers up for the rest of his game that isn’t ready yet. For teams with aspirations of winning the nhl is not a developmental league. Send the kid to the A so he can learn.

 

[cg98]

They really don’t. They have like 3 or 4 wingers that would make me not gift a spot to an NHL ready first round pick. They have a lot of middle of the league roster filler. Maybe that’s why they don’t succeed in the playoffs. How about taking a different strategy for once and trying to develop some difference makers?

Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey and Connor Hellebuyck are apparently "not difference makers who werent developed" by us.

Lol for sure.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Yeah...the idea that Winnipeg doesn't have forward depth, particularly on the wing is pretty gnarly too. I don't get that.

 

[Heldig]

They really don’t. They have like 3 or 4 wingers that would make me not gift a spot to an NHL ready first round pick. They have a lot of middle of the league roster filler. Maybe that’s why they don’t succeed in the playoffs. How about taking a different strategy for once and trying to develop some difference makers?

Rushing talent on to the roster ALWAYS works out.

 

[Craig Ludwig]

Good luck to Rutger McCrybaby, have fun in Pittsburgh where forward prospects go to die. Besides Malkin and Crosby, who were sure fire NHL players, not one forward on their roster was developed by Pittsburgh. You wanted out of Winnipeg, a phenomenal place to develop (see Connors, Ehlers, Scheifele, Appleton, Lowry), live with the consequences. He should have been thinking long term for his career. A lot of these kids should be better advised by their agents, in this case Pat Brisson (Mario Lemieux good buddy).

 

[Michael Farkas]

Good luck to Rutger McCrybaby, have fun in Pittsburgh where forward prospects go to die. Besides Malkin and Crosby, who were sure fire NHL players, not one forward on their roster was developed by Pittsburgh. You wanted out of Winnipeg, a phenomenal place to develop (see Connors, Ehlers, Scheifele, Appleton, Lowry), live with the consequences. He should have been thinking long term for his career. A lot of these kids should be better advised by their agents, in this case Pat Brisson (Mario Lemieux good buddy).

I get the sentiment, you just have it backwards. Pittsburgh has been a great development spot, but a poor drafting spot. They get more games out of undrafted players (Drew O'Connor, Zach Aston-Reese, Conor Sheary, etc.) than drafted players of late.

The idea that none of the forward prospects are Pittsburgh players sounds incorrect-ish, obviously Guentzel just got traded for a number of players and picks...but Rust and O'Connor and Puustinen are still there.

 

[Craig Ludwig]

I get the sentiment, you just have it backwards. Pittsburgh has been a great development spot, but a poor drafting spot. They get more games out of undrafted players (Drew O'Connor, Zach Aston-Reese, Conor Sheary, etc.) than drafted players of late.

The idea that none of the forward prospects are Pittsburgh players sounds incorrect-ish, obviously Guentzel just got traded for a number of players and picks...but Rust and O'Connor and Puustinen are still there.

Get your point, but overall not great track record for forward draft prospects in Pitt (Puustinen is a no). And with Sid and Malkin aging out, McGroarty won't have any help at all, again hurting his growth potential and opportunity to sign the big contract. Dumb move on his (and his agent's) part.

 

[Eegs]

Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey and Connor Hellebuyck are apparently "not difference makers who werent developed" by us.

Lol for sure.

Gabe Vilardi's hands are also a difference maker