F Rutger McGroarty - WBS Penguins, AHL (2022, 14th, WPG; traded to PIT)

[Boonk]

Total moving of the goalposts.

The comment was about players at his position.

They quite literally are running out bums like Appleton, Niederreiter, Iafallo, Barron as their bottom six wingers. Not to mention they have Namestnikov as a top 6 center, and they easily could’ve worked around that by having Vilardi at center.

As I said, 3 or 4 players who could’ve been ahead of him. Instead, they chose mediocrity. They chose these mediocrities so early on that they weren’t even willing to sign the dude and tell him what he wanted to hear.

They were gonna run it back and wonder why the same things keep happening. Someone has to be a middle of the league team in this league. Chevy perpetuates it. Don’t understand why the fans get mad at people for saying it or first round picks who have reasonable asks of their team as opposed to their team for delivering an undesirable product.


There’s literally no indication he’s rushed. He was a first round pick, had a successful two years in college, and was pretty darn good in the preseason. Not like he’s playing for the Hawks or Sharks either where there is just guaranteed opportunity for anyone who doesn’t suck.

What does any of those players have to do with developing our top 6 'difference maker" talents lol. All of those guys are bottom 6 plugs who...play in our bottom 6. Its still pretty important to develop and acquire those too btw. Vilardi is not a natural center and never has been at the NHL level, and neither is McGroarty. Neither of those players would alleviate the problem at 2C even with Namestnikov there as a stopgap. Talking about "moving goalposts". Lol.

McGroarty isnt even considered to be a fulltime mainstay in Pittsburgh yet and was teetering on the edge of being sent down anyway until Rust and a few other wingers on Pittsburgh were injured. Its almost as if he needs development time playing top 6 in the AHL that he so desparately wants to avoid even if he is a first round prospect. Color me shocked

 

[Heldig]

Total moving of the goalposts.

The comment was about players at his position.

They quite literally are running out bums like Appleton, Niederreiter, Iafallo, Barron as their bottom six wingers. Not to mention they have Namestnikov as a top 6 center, and they easily could’ve worked around that by having Vilardi at center.

As I said, 3 or 4 players who could’ve been ahead of him. Instead, they chose mediocrity. They chose these mediocrities so early on that they weren’t even willing to sign the dude and tell him what he wanted to hear.

They were gonna run it back and wonder why the same things keep happening. Someone has to be a middle of the league team in this league. Chevy perpetuates it. Don’t understand why the fans get mad at people for saying it or first round picks who have reasonable asks of their team as opposed to their team for delivering an undesirable product.


There’s literally no indication he’s rushed. He was a first round pick, had a successful two years in college, and was pretty darn good in the preseason. Not like he’s playing for the Hawks or Sharks either where there is just guaranteed opportunity for anyone who doesn’t suck.

Too soon to tell if he is being rushed. The premise was gifting him a spot so he would sign with the Jets. It is a bad way to operate a franchise. He could have cme t camp and forced his way on the roster. He chose to demand a trade instead.

There is also the consideration of managing assets - something the Jets have to do as they wont attract many free agents. Players that can be sent down vs players that have to be waived makes for some difficult decisions.

And of course we do not know the real reasons McGroarty did a 180 degree turn on the franchise. MIght have zero to do with guaranteed playing time.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

What does any of those players have to do with developing our top 6 'difference maker" talents lol. All of those guys are bottom 6 plugs who...play in our bottom 6. Its still pretty important to develop and acquire those too btw. Vilardi is not a natural center and never has been at the NHL level, and neither is McGroarty. Neither of those players would alleviate the problem at 2C even with Namestnikov there as a stopgap. Talking about "moving goalposts". Lol.

McGroarty isnt even considered to be a fulltime mainstay in Pittsburgh yet and was teetering on the edge of being sent down anyway until Rust and a few other wingers on Pittsburgh were injured. It’s almost as if he needs development time playing top 6 in the AHL that he so desparately wants to avoid even if he is a first round prospect. Color me shocked

I think it’s pretty obvious, but telling a player who could actually develop into a difference maker that there’s no room for him because the mediocrities gotta eat isn’t something that progressive teams do. Progressive teams would move out a few of the mediocrities to make room for a player who could be a difference maker. They would give every chance to that player. Jets basically told him they have no room for him because the mediocrities gotta eat. Seems simple. Not very confusing.

Vilardi was also drafted as a center. Pretty sure he actually is a natural center, even if he played as a winger in his draft year.

And I’m not actually sure it’s true to claim he barely made Penguins roster. I think it was more likely someone else would’ve made way for Rust. In fact, Penguins fans have decried how they have too much mediocrity as their wingers surrounding their two big star forwards, yet they made room for McGroarty and he earned his spot when given the opportunity to make the team. Two things the Jets wouldn’t even entertain.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Too soon to tell if he is being rushed. The premise was gifting him a spot so he would sign with the Jets. It is a bad way to operate a franchise. He could have cme t camp and forced his way on the roster. He chose to demand a trade instead.

There is also the consideration of managing assets - something the Jets have to do as they wont attract many free agents. Players that can be sent down vs players that have to be waived makes for some difficult decisions.

And of course we do not know the real reasons McGroarty did a 180 degree turn on the franchise. MIght have zero to do with guaranteed playing time.

Have you ever been to Pittsburgh? The idea that the Jets have to manage their roster this way because the city of Winnipeg is derided by NHL players is so stupid. The overwhelming majority of NHL players don’t have any issue playing wherever.

Whether McGroarty succeeds early in Pittsburgh is a totally different discussion from whether he was ready. It isn’t a determination in hindsight. It’s a determination at the time. It should be judged on whether what he’s done prior to the NHL entitles him the opportunity to play in the NHL at that time.

 

[OilersFanatics505]

He went from one team who won their opening game 6-0 to a team that lost their opening game 6-0.

 

[Craig Ludwig]

Too soon to tell if he is being rushed. The premise was gifting him a spot so he would sign with the Jets. It is a bad way to operate a franchise. He could have cme t camp and forced his way on the roster. He chose to demand a trade instead.

There is also the consideration of managing assets - something the Jets have to do as they wont attract many free agents. Players that can be sent down vs players that have to be waived makes for some difficult decisions.

And of course we do not know the real reasons McGroarty did a 180 degree turn on the franchise. MIght have zero to do with guaranteed playing time.

Here is the top three real reasons:

1. Money
2. Money
3. Money

Well Rutger, you burned a year off your ELC and "might" play a full year in the NHL because of your trade demand. Congrats, you made $950,000 instead of $80,000 in your first year by avoiding learning how to play big minutes with big boys in the AHL. You're also stunting your development by playing limited minutes in the NHL. So to make that extra $870,000 this year, you are risking a massive, massive payoff in a few years (see Guenther contract, $57 Million). Pittsburgh is a dying franchise talent wise, and you won't have any support, thus crappier numbers to lead to that big contract. Dumb decision that should not be made by a 20 year old, unfortunately probably made by his agent.

 

[Boonk]

I think it’s pretty obvious, but telling a player who could actually develop into a difference maker that there’s no room for him because the mediocrities gotta eat isn’t something that progressive teams do. Progressive teams would move out a few of the mediocrities to make room for a player who could be a difference maker. They would give every chance to that player. Jets basically told him they have no room for him because the mediocrities gotta eat. Seems simple. Not very confusing.

Vilardi was also drafted as a center. Pretty sure he actually is a natural center, even if he played as a winger in his draft year.

And I’m not actually sure it’s true to claim he barely made Penguins roster. I think it was more likely someone else would’ve made way for Rust. In fact, Penguins fans have decried how they have too much mediocrity as their wingers surrounding their two big star forwards, yet they made room for McGroarty and he earned his spot when given the opportunity to make the team. Two things the Jets wouldn’t even entertain.

You act like McGroarty is some cant miss prospect that teams who pick him have to build around. He is not. He is a foundational piece that you use to build around someone who is, but he is not going to be the guy any team leans their future on even on the wing. It wasnt the case in Winnipeg and its not going to be the case in Pittsburgh. He had a pretty mid preseason until like 1 game with Poolparty, and all the Pens fans on the boards were expecting him to be sent down, which contradicts your opinion entirely.

Vilardi is not an NHL center. Fullstop I dont care what he was in his injury riddled Junior career in the OHL when he was drafted, when hes shown that he cant drive the play up the middle of the ice as well in the NHL all these years later. He is a great play driving defensive winger who has good hands and passing in tight spaces but if you are an NHL team trotting out Vilardi as your top center you have some clear issues up front and hes not going to fix it as your fulltime top 6 center. He is just as much of a stopgap in the middle as Namestnikov is. McGroarty wasnt going to fix the 2C issue either no matter how high, hard and loud you proclaim that he can.

 

[Huffer]

I think it’s pretty obvious, but telling a player who could actually develop into a difference maker that there’s no room for him because the mediocrities gotta eat isn’t something that progressive teams do. Progressive teams would move out a few of the mediocrities to make room for a player who could be a difference maker. They would give every chance to that player. Jets basically told him they have no room for him because the mediocrities gotta eat. Seems simple. Not very confusing.

Vilardi was also drafted as a center. Pretty sure he actually is a natural center, even if he played as a winger in his draft year.

And I’m not actually sure it’s true to claim he barely made Penguins roster. I think it was more likely someone else would’ve made way for Rust. In fact, Penguins fans have decried how they have too much mediocrity as their wingers surrounding their two big star forwards, yet they made room for McGroarty and he earned his spot when given the opportunity to make the team. Two things the Jets wouldn’t even entertain.

It's about roles on the various lines, and minutes as well though.

He was not going to beat out Connor, Vilardi, Ehlers, or Perfetti for a top 6 winger spot.

Vilardi is not a centre, has not played centre for the Jets and I don't think he played much there in LA. So him all of a sudden moving to centre to try and accommodate McGroarty makes 0 sense in reality.

Niederreiter and Appleton play the tough minutes with Lowry. There's 0 chance a team looks to put a rookie in that position to play those hard minutes and also expect that player to also try and develop some offense. That line is already a well performing line.

So then you look at the "Bums" as you call it on the 4th. Because that's the only line that McGroarty had a chance on. Iafallo is a guy that can play up and down the lineup and is a luxury to have on the 4th. He played in the top 6 I believe in LA at times. Barron is probably more like league average for a 4th liner. But that's also not a place you want to put a guy that you hope can become a top 6 player some day. Playing a ton of minutes in the AHL as opposed to limited minutes on the 4th line would have been much better for McGroarty's development had he stayed with the Jets and it would been the right decision.

If he can get top 6 minutes with the Pens, or at least a good amount of minutes not being put in a defensive matchup role that is something that might benefit him as well. If that's what he gets in Pittsburgh and it works out for him, then great for him. But he likely wasn't getting that from the Jets, and it was 100% the right decision by the Jets as well.

Lambert was taken in the same draft and was an AHL all-star and all rookie team last year. He also did not make the Jets this season but it's not because the Jets are some sort of anomaly, it's because he didn't clearly beat out quality NHL players in the top 6, he's not going to play on the Lowry line as explained above, and having him play more limited minutes on the 4th is a worse idea than having a 20 year old further develop all aspects of his game with a second season in the AHL.

JETS NOTEBOOK: Brad Lambert shrugging off disappointment, aims to get back to NHL

If Brad Lambert pulls a Kyle Connor, it will be because they share at least one thing in common: a level head.

winnipegsun.com

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

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.

I'd say that's more attributable to a lack of high end draft picks due to trading them for playoff runs.

Which promising forward prospects do you think were compromised by poor development from Pittsburgh?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

It's about roles on the various lines, and minutes as well though.

He was not going to beat out Connor, Vilardi, Ehlers, or Perfetti for a top 6 winger spot.

Vilardi is not a centre, has not played centre for the Jets and I don't think he played much there in LA. So him all of a sudden moving to centre to try and accommodate McGroarty makes 0 sense in reality.

Niederreiter and Appleton play the tough minutes with Lowry. There's 0 chance a team looks to put a rookie in that position to play those hard minutes and also expect that player to also try and develop some offense. That line is already a well performing line.

So then you look at the "Bums" as you call it on the 4th. Because that's the only line that McGroarty had a chance on. Iafallo is a guy that can play up and down the lineup and is a luxury to have on the 4th. He played in the top 6 I believe in LA at times. Barron is probably more like league average for a 4th liner. But that's also not a place you want to put a guy that you hope can become a top 6 player some day. Playing a ton of minutes in the AHL as opposed to limited minutes on the 4th line would have been much better for McGroarty's development had he stayed with the Jets and it would been the right decision.

If he can get top 6 minutes with the Pens, or at least a good amount of minutes not being put in a defensive matchup role that is something that might benefit him as well. If that's what he gets in Pittsburgh and it works out for him, then great for him. But he likely wasn't getting that from the Jets, and it was 100% the right decision by the Jets as well.

Lambert was taken in the same draft and was an AHL all-star and all rookie team last year. He also did not make the Jets this season but it's not because the Jets are some sort of anomaly, it's because he didn't clearly beat out quality NHL players in the top 6, he's not going to play on the Lowry line as explained above, and having him play more limited minutes on the 4th is a worse idea than having a 20 year old further develop all aspects of his game with a second season in the AHL.

JETS NOTEBOOK: Brad Lambert shrugging off disappointment, aims to get back to NHL

If Brad Lambert pulls a Kyle Connor, it will be because they share at least one thing in common: a level head.

winnipegsun.com

I appreciate your explanation and that you’ve taken a respectful tone to this. I’m not sure I really needed an explanation, but I appreciate the attempt.

At the same time, I don’t know how you can say it was absolutely the right decision. You seem to recognize that the Jets do things a very particular way and the decision with McGroarty was about refusing to bend from that when he asked for them to do so.

If the team had just won the Cup or was a perennial cup contender, I think that argument would have a lot more merit. Where they’ve been with this group of players and management, how could you be so sure that doing things different isn’t the right strategy?

 

[Leviathan899]

Here is the top three real reasons:

1. Money
2. Money
3. Money

Well Rutger, you burned a year off your ELC and "might" play a full year in the NHL because of your trade demand. Congrats, you made $950,000 instead of $80,000 in your first year by avoiding learning how to play big minutes with big boys in the AHL. You're also stunting your development by playing limited minutes in the NHL. So to make that extra $870,000 this year, you are risking a massive, massive payoff in a few years (see Guenther contract, $57 Million). Pittsburgh is a dying franchise talent wise, and you won't have any support, thus crappier numbers to lead to that big contract. Dumb decision that should not be made by a 20 year old, unfortunately probably made by his agent.

Good post. He’s going to stagnate in Pittsburgh big time as he isn’t going to get prime minutes or PP time, like middle 6 minutes and the team has no depth. Pittsburgh is going to be San Jose for a decade once Crosby leaves in a few years. 0 prospect pool and unless you get lucky enough to draft a mcdavid level 1OA, the rebuild is no guarantee. Dark days ahead in steeltown.

 

[Turin]

Good post. He’s going to stagnate in Pittsburgh big time as he isn’t going to get prime minutes or PP time, like middle 6 minutes and the team has no depth. Pittsburgh is going to be San Jose for a decade once Crosby leaves in a few years. 0 prospect pool and unless you get lucky enough to draft a mcdavid level 1OA, the rebuild is no guarantee. Dark days ahead in steeltown.

Why wouldn't he get PP time if he shows he deserves it? Gonna be stuck behind Michael Bunting or something? Please

 

[Huffer]

I appreciate your explanation and that you’ve taken a respectful tone to this. I’m not sure I really needed an explanation, but I appreciate the attempt.

At the same time, I don’t know how you can say it was absolutely the right decision. You seem to recognize that the Jets do things a very particular way and the decision with McGroarty was about refusing to bend from that when he asked for them to do so.

If the team had just won the Cup or was a perennial cup contender, I think that argument would have a lot more merit. Where they’ve been with this group of players and management, how could you be so sure that doing things different isn’t the right strategy?

I'm not going to touch that 1st paragraph, but as for your second, you yourself said this above,

"Whether McGroarty succeeds early in Pittsburgh is a totally different discussion from whether he was ready. It isn’t a determination in hindsight. It’s a determination at the time. It should be judged on whether what he’s done prior to the NHL entitles him the opportunity to play in the NHL at that time."

That is why it was the right decision. I don't know what the future holds, no one does. We can only judge the decision based on it's merits and the info at the time. There is no info based on the players the Jets already have that he merits a spot in a position that would be advantageous for both him and the team.

Also, the Jets don't do things any more particular than any other franchise. He wouldn't have beat anyone out for a spot, it looks like he knew it, and he wanted to go to a team that he thought had more spots available.

If we're talking about gifting spots on the NHL roster to players because they are 1st round picks, why did Brenann Othmann only get 3 games in his D+3 year? If your answer is because he wasn't ready or that he likely wouldn't have beaten anyone for a spot, and the Rangers were trying to win, it's the same as the Jets.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I'm not going to touch that 1st paragraph, but as for your second, you yourself said this above,

"Whether McGroarty succeeds early in Pittsburgh is a totally different discussion from whether he was ready. It isn’t a determination in hindsight. It’s a determination at the time. It should be judged on whether what he’s done prior to the NHL entitles him the opportunity to play in the NHL at that time."

That is why it was the right decision. I don't know what the future holds, no one does. We can only judge the decision based on it's merits and the info at the time. There is no info based on the players the Jets already have that he merits a spot in a position that would be advantageous for both him and the team.

Then I'll explain it to you. Your argument is basically that he's not a top 6 winger for the Jets right now and he can't play on the third line because their third line is a checking line.

Why do they need a checking line as their third line? When you have a grinder bum like Namestnikov as your second line center, why do you need another grinder as your third line center? Why not make Lowry the second line center, have him play with some real talent (can the Jets best wingers not learn to play some defense?), and that can be the matchup line.

You are set in your ways. You've basically explained a top 6 and bottom 6 type of method to the Jets. Most NHL teams do not do things like that.

Also, the Jets don't do things any more particular than any other franchise. He wouldn't have beat anyone out for a spot, it looks like he knew it, and he wanted to go to a team that he thought had more spots available.

Sorry, but this sounds like denial. The Penguins quite literally offered him something the Jets wouldn't, and you very well know there were plenty of other teams that were going to do so.

They sent down Lambert and Chibrikov. Would he have beaten anyone out for a spot? Hard to know. Depends if he was given a real chance. I don't know why you are so sure that he wouldn't have been able to make the Jets when he made another NHL team that isn't one of the worst teams in the league.

If we're talking about gifting spots on the NHL roster to players because they are 1st round picks, why did Brenann Othmann only get 3 games in his D+3 year? If your answer is because he wasn't ready or that he likely wouldn't have beaten anyone for a spot, and the Rangers were trying to win, it's the same as the Jets.

Now you're taking this off the rails. I took your argument in good faith, and now you're essentially trying to discredit me, which is a telltale sign that your argument is weak.

I don't know why you think you've put me in some "gotcha" situation. If you asked me, Othmann would be in the lineup. I absolutely condemn that the team signed Reilly Smith instead of giving him a chance. I want nothing to do with Smith. He's not the type of player you win with. Unfortunately, if Kaapo Kakko was remotely capable of playing in the top 6 they probably would've (or at least Berard), but Kakko has shown he can't play in our top 6 and they were unable to trade him during the summer, so this is what we're stuck with. Anyway, I still would move Cuylle down the fourth for Othmann. At the same time, it's a different type of situation. Othmann already had signed his ELC. McGroarty hadn't. College players have leverage, and we saw McGroarty use his. And I'm not sure these teams are really in the same situation. I think the Jets are a lot more of a "team that needs a few more top pieces" before they are a Cup Contender. Rangers are an all-in Cup Contender. But why does my team have anything to do with this question about McGroarty?

 

[Huffer]

Then I'll explain it to you. Your argument is basically that he's not a top 6 winger for the Jets right now and he can't play on the third line because their third line is a checking line.

Why do they need a checking line as their third line? When you have a grinder bum like Namestnikov as your second line center, why do you need another grinder as your third line center? Why not make Lowry the second line center, have him play with some real talent (can the Jets best wingers not learn to play some defense?), and that can be the matchup line.

You are set in your ways. You've basically explained a top 6 and bottom 6 type of method to the Jets. Most NHL teams do not do things like that.

There's nothing that would indicate that Ehlers / Lowry / Perfetti taking the hard matchups against McDavid, and then having Nino / Names / McGroarty (we'll use him here but he'd still need to beat out others for this spot) take 3rd line minutes makes the Jets a better team.

The Lowry line routinely gets minutes like a 2nd line, so you could also label the Jets as a top 9 bottom 3 as well.

The Jets have tried to bring in other centres to replace Names, but that's not always easy. PLD was a bust, and with the salary cap, teams are usually going to have areas they'd love to upgrade if they could.

Sorry, but this sounds like denial. The Penguins quite literally offered him something the Jets wouldn't, and you very well know there were plenty of other teams that were going to do so.

They sent down Lambert and Chibrikov. Would he have beaten anyone out for a spot? Hard to know. Depends if he was given a real chance. I don't know why you are so sure that he wouldn't have been able to make the Jets when he made another NHL team that isn't one of the worst teams in the league.

I absolutely agree that there are other teams that could offer him a spot and that's what I said. All teams have different strengths and weaknesses, and are at different stages.

He didn't want to come in and compete for a spot. The Jets rightly so are not going to promise him a spot on the roster. A GM would be incompetent if they did that. He decided he didn't want to compete for it and possibly have to spend time in the AHL. There are other teams with different needs than the Jets and he was able to get himself onto a team that had more opportunity and a different need. Win for him and the Jets made out with a really good prospect as well so it worked out for the Jets too.

Now you're taking this off the rails. I took your argument in good faith, and now you're essentially trying to discredit me, which is a telltale sign that your argument is weak.

I don't know why you think you've put me in some "gotcha" situation. If you asked me, Othmann would be in the lineup. I absolutely condemn that the team signed Reilly Smith instead of giving him a chance. I want nothing to do with Smith. He's not the type of player you win with. Unfortunately, if Kaapo Kakko was remotely capable of playing in the top 6 they probably would've (or at least Berard), but Kakko has shown he can't play in our top 6 and they were unable to trade him during the summer, so this is what we're stuck with. Anyway, I still would move Cuylle down the fourth for Othmann. At the same time, it's a different type of situation. Othmann already had signed his ELC. McGroarty hadn't. College players have leverage, and we saw McGroarty use his. And I'm not sure these teams are really in the same situation. I think the Jets are a lot more of a "team that needs a few more top pieces" before they are a Cup Contender. Rangers are an all-in Cup Contender. But why does my team have anything to do with this question about McGroarty?

I was trying to use another example of a 1st round pick not getting gifted a spot on their team in their D+3 year because they're a 1st round pick. You said this above;

"Don’t understand why the fans get mad at people for saying it or first round picks who have reasonable asks of their team as opposed to their team for delivering an undesirable product.

There’s literally no indication he’s rushed. He was a first round pick, had a successful two years in college, and was pretty darn good in the preseason. Not like he’s playing for the Hawks or Sharks either where there is just guaranteed opportunity for anyone who doesn’t suck."

Korchinski and Nazar were both sent down, were both drafted in the same draft as McGroarty, and both play for the Hawks which is one of the worst teams in the league. Even the Hawks don't have a spot and want Nazar to get more minutes in the AHL;

Blackhawks send F Nazar, D Korchinski to minors

The Chicago Blackhawks assigned forward Frank Nazar and defenseman Kevin Korchinski to their top minor league affiliate on Wednesday.

www.espn.com

""I think getting Frank to be down there to be a No. 1 center and to be on the power play, penalty kill, where if he's here, that might dwindle, the ice time," Chicago coach Luke Richardson said, "or even be in and out of the lineup as a young guy."

I wouldn't be surprised if they get back up faster due to the Hawks being in a different stage, but the point is the Jets are not unique in preferring young players get more minutes in the AHL if the alternative is a minor role in the NHL.

You are correct that one difference is that McGroarty hadn't signed his ELC yet. Nazar was also coming from the NCAA and signed his ELC without guarantee of playing on the Hawks. Looks like McGroarty wasn't willing to do that and the Jets GM rightfully so isn't going to make lineup guarantees.

You also may not consider the Jets a cup contender, and I would agree that they are not in the first tier. But they finished last year tied for 4th overall in the league. They have spent 1st round picks at deadlines (not efficiently IMO), and are clearly in win now mode.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I was trying to use another example of a 1st round pick not getting gifted a spot on their team in their D+3 year because they're a 1st round pick. You said this above;

"Don’t understand why the fans get mad at people for saying it or first round picks who have reasonable asks of their team as opposed to their team for delivering an undesirable product.

There’s literally no indication he’s rushed. He was a first round pick, had a successful two years in college, and was pretty darn good in the preseason. Not like he’s playing for the Hawks or Sharks either where there is just guaranteed opportunity for anyone who doesn’t suck."

Korchinski and Nazar were both sent down, were both drafted in the same draft as McGroarty, and both play for the Hawks which is one of the worst teams in the league. Even the Hawks don't have a spot and want Nazar to get more minutes in the AHL;

TBF, D Korchinski was gifted an NHL spot last year. Although, he couldn't qualify for the AHL as a 19-year old, CHL product. Korchinski was terrible last year in his D+2 season in the NHL: 76 NHL games, 5g +10a = 15 points, and -39 rating.

 

[Huffer]

TBF, D Korchinski was gifted an NHL spot last year. Although, he couldn't qualify for the AHL as a 19-year old, CHL product. Korchinski was terrible last year in his D+2 season in the NHL: 76 NHL games, 5g +10a = 15 points, and -39 rating.

Thanks, and it's a great point.

Last year when the Hawks were in a different situation (and Korchinski couldn't go to the AHL), they had him on the NHL roster.

Now, the situation has slightly changed, and they've decided that it makes more sense for the player, and the team to have 2 players taken in the 1st round of the 2022 draft to get more minutes in the AHL. Even though the Hawks would not be considered a team that is in win now mode.

 

[Craig Ludwig]

Why wouldn't he get PP time if he shows he deserves it? Gonna be stuck behind Michael Bunting or something? Please

Look at how much he played the first two games. He's not ready for the NHL, plain and simple. He should be in the AHL getting prime minutes and prime power play time, that would be best for him, and best for the team long run. Very selfish demanding a trade so that he could burn his first year.

 

[Craig Ludwig]

I'd say that's more attributable to a lack of high end draft picks due to trading them for playoff runs.

Which promising forward prospects do you think were compromised by poor development from Pittsburgh?

I get your point, but take your pick: NHL Records

I know they traded away a lot of picks, understandably, but they're not getting much return on their second and third round picks, like to Lightning and others have.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Look at how much he played the first two games. He's not ready for the NHL, plain and simple. He should be in the AHL getting prime minutes and prime power play time, that would be best for him, and best for the team long run. Very selfish demanding a trade so that he could burn his first year.

He earned a spot in preseason, simple as that. He may go back down when Rust and Lizotte return. He’s absolutely ready. It’s a question of where he’s better off for his long term development. He’s played very well so far though.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Look at how much he played the first two games. He's not ready for the NHL, plain and simple. He should be in the AHL getting prime minutes and prime power play time, that would be best for him, and best for the team long run. Very selfish demanding a trade so that he could burn his first year.

Pretty sure he played standard “first two games” minutes for a player who isn’t like guaranteed 18-20 minutes a game because his team is tanking. Not as if he played 6 minutes.

You act as if he was like .5PPG in the NCAA and was a fourth round pick. He has plenty of pedigree to suggest he’s NHL ready and didn’t have to grind it out for years in the minors to wait for a chance.

 

[Whileee]

The issue with McGroarty vis-a-vis the Jets isn't just finding him a roster spot with their veteran forward line-up, but also having him compete with other strong prospects such as Gustafsson, Lambert and Chibrikov.

Looking ahead, in addition to those prospects the Jets also have Barlow and Kevin He (who wowed at camp and has dominated at the OHL level early this season) in the pipeline.

At some point the Jets might have had to trade one of those other winger prospects if they had signed McGroarty, so adding a right-shot C is probably a better fit for their prospect pipeline.

 

[abj]

McGroarty is released and Yager goes to Penguins. Good business. Two talents.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I get your point, but take your pick: NHL Records

I know they traded away a lot of picks, understandably, but they're not getting much return on their second and third round picks, like to Lightning and others have.

The 2nd and 3rd round picks that the Pens used on forwards on that page (2015-present) were Sprong, Bjorkqvist, Hallander, Legare, Broz and Howe. 6 players, the last 2 of which are still very much in the development stage.

So 4 players to judge on. Now look at how many 2nd and 3rd rounders the Lightning used on forwards over that timeframe. Preeetty big discrepancy.

Didn't look like TB hit on many of them either.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1846631298150158602