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

[rt]

He’s only played winger at the NTDP, but I’ve seen him play center on some PK shifts. There are way too many centers for all of them to play center.

Cooley, McGroarty, Gauthier, Stramel, Snuggerud, Nazar, Spicer, Berard are all guys I think have a chance to play center in the pro game. I think they all project as centers, besides Nazar and Berard. I think Spicer could go either way. Fleming was also a natural center before he left. Lines change all the time, but he’s played a lot with Cooley.

Thanks! I usually see the lines listed like this:

McGroarty-Cooley-XXX
XXXXX-Nazar-XXXXX
XXXXX-Gauthier-XXXX

^ is that usually how it is 5v5?

(I can only go off of the info graphics the team posts on Twitter - lol)

 

[DLB]

McGroarty is a shoot first player who misses vision as a playmaker and work on his skating will bring him more stability speed and acceleration.

Looks like a Brendan Gallagher kind of player imo.

DLB repêchage LNH 2022 Rutger McGroarty/ NHL draft - Dans La Bande !

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Thanks! I usually see the lines listed like this:

McGroarty-Cooley-XXX
XXXXX-Nazar-XXXXX
XXXXX-Gauthier-XXXX

^ is that usually how it is 5v5?

(I can only go off of the info graphics the team posts on Twitter - lol)

Recently, yes.

The variables are that Stramel has been injured all season, I'm not convinced the best defensive center Snuggerud will play wing all season, and Gauthier as third line on this team is a mis-use of his talent.

This is only my take, but of the 12 current players when everyone is healthy, this would be my alignment.

McGroarty-Gauthier-Nazar
Howard-Stramel-Cooley
Kaplan-Snuggerud-Lucius
Berard-Spicer-Hejduk

 

[Herb Brooksie]

Recently, yes.

The variables are that Stramel has been injured all season, I'm not convinced the best defensive center Snuggerud will play wing all season, and Gauthier as third line on this team is a mis-use of his talent.

This is only my take, but of the 12 current players when everyone is healthy, this would be my alignment.

McGroarty-Gauthier-Nazar
Howard-Stramel-Cooley
Kaplan-Snuggerud-Lucius
Berard-Spicer-Hejduk

Love that size up the middle. This might be the biggest squad up front in recent memory and that must be the reason why the same can be said for lack of size on the back end LOL

 

[TheWhiskeyThief]

McGroarty is a shoot first player who misses vision as a playmaker and work on his skating will bring him more stability speed and acceleration.

Looks like a Brendan Gallagher kind of player imo.

DLB repêchage LNH 2022 Rutger McGroarty/ NHL draft - Dans La Bande !

Saw him last week; working on his crossovers, doesn’t know how to apply it in game. NBD now, but when he figures it out he’ll be scary.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Love that size up the middle. This might be the biggest squad up front in recent memory and that must be the reason why the same can be said for lack of size on the back end LOL

I have to say that I’m a little worried about how some of these smaller players games translate to higher levels. There’s about 4-5 of them projected as first rounders. I feel like a number of the bigger players on this team are completely underrated.

 

[Herb Brooksie]

I have to say that I’m a little worried about how some of these smaller players games translate to higher levels. There’s about 4-5 of them projected as first rounders. I feel like a number of the bigger players on this team are completely underrated.

Absolutely. There are some hidden gems on this team like Spicer, Kaplan, Lucius and Hejduk. Some of the D seem to be growing based on the janky hockeytv views but none have gotten over 5’10” from what I can tell.

 

[Herb Brooksie]

Also the games today and tomorrow at 3 appear to have free feeds based on an article on their website. Today we are up against Boston and I hope Commesso starts again after a solid game last night.

 

[montreal]

 

[montreal]

Rutger McGroarty with the snipe, set up from Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud vs North Dakota.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I irrationally back in his offensive potential. One of the most clinical prospects I can remember when there's a scoring chance. Usually they go in at the same rate for just about anyone, but it seems like he punishes defenses at a higher rate than other players. I have no statistical data to back that up other than he puts up a lot of points, but his passing and shooting is so accurate. You rarely ever see him mess up a grade A chance. I watch him play, see a scoring chance that Rutger is part of, think this is going to be a goal, and then on command the puck is in the net a few seconds later. Almost without fail. He's not that involved in a game other than when he's part of a scoring chance, but can you argue with the numbers he puts up? I don't agree either with anyone who claims he's a bad skater. He's not a good skater, but his skating is not bad.

Go ahead and tear apart my opinion. I'm backing McGroarty as a future star in the NHL.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Odds of him dropping to 2nd round?
Early 2nd round.

 

[William H Bonney]

Odds of him dropping to 2nd round?
Early 2nd round.

Low. He's got size and he gets high praise for his leadership, which NHL teams love. I think he's probably got one of their wider gaps between his draft position floor and ceiling than most other top prospects in this draft, though.

 

[montreal]

named player of the game in the bio-steel game.

 

[Dominance]

named player of the game in the bio-steel game.

Didn’t look like his skating was a problem on that play.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

He actually looks a lot like Timo Meier on the ice. Just not as much speed.

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

I irrationally back in his offensive potential. One of the most clinical prospects I can remember when there's a scoring chance. Usually they go in at the same rate for just about anyone, but it seems like he punishes defenses at a higher rate than other players. I have no statistical data to back that up other than he puts up a lot of points, but his passing and shooting is so accurate. You rarely ever see him mess up a grade A chance. I watch him play, see a scoring chance that Rutger is part of, think this is going to be a goal, and then on command the puck is in the net a few seconds later. Almost without fail. He's not that involved in a game other than when he's part of a scoring chance, but can you argue with the numbers he puts up? I don't agree either with anyone who claims he's a bad skater. He's not a good skater, but his skating is not bad.

Go ahead and tear apart my opinion. I'm backing McGroarty as a future star in the NHL.

Dude, right? Clinical is a good descriptor, he's like a hockey Haaland out there at times. His hands and instincts around the net are ridiculously good, and I think his frame will allow that aspect of his game to translate really well to higher levels. Couple that with his vision and excellent shot and I think he'll produce a lot of offense, especially on the powerplay and controlled 5v5 possession on the cycle.

The skating isn't an asset, but it really doesn't seem to prevent him from doing what he's good at. Sure he's not flying through the neutral zone, but his hands and puck protection allow him to transport the puck reasonably well.


I don't have a rigid numeric ranking right now, I haven't been able to see quite as much of the draft eligibles as I'd like. But McGroarty has been my highest rated winger in this class for a while, and his play this year is only reinforcing that opinion.

 

[montreal]

 

[hockeynorth]

I think Rutger will be the best American from this draft

 

[Haanz]

I think Rutger will be the best American from this draft

An unpopular opinion, but I second this. He’s been in my top 5 all season long.

 

[peconcan]

Thrown out for cross checking, looked like he was sticking up for Cooley who got taken down. Personally didn’t think it was that bad especially with them wearing cages. Could get a game or 2 with these shitty international rules.

 

[AmericanDream]

He is a tough kid, stands up for his teammates and is obviously a leader with some skill. I would be happy if he turned into anything like a David Backes who had a number of really good years offensively. Inside the top 10 would be very surprising for me but would love to see him get there!

 

[BKarchitect]

He is a tough kid, stands up for his teammates and is obviously a leader with some skill. I would be happy if he turned into anything like a David Backes who had a number of really good years offensively. Inside the top 10 would be very surprising for me but would love to see him get there!

Really dig the Backes comp - he was a regular for 30 goals in his St. Louis days along with 100+ PIM, the captain and leader in the room and just an all-around stand up teammate. McGroarty can obviously score goals and displays that same on-ice stand-up for your teammates mentality and everything you hear about him off the ice is that he's got just a preternatural ability to be a leader.

He may not be eloquent out there and he may need to ride shotgun to a playmaker to maximize his skill set but he sure has the feel of a guy you want on a winning team. If I think I'm getting David Backes, I'm taking that in the 10-15 range of this draft all freaking day long and being pretty thrilled.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

For me he’s the best of the American forwards for 2022. Could end up the best player. I think he has the highest upside on the current NTDP U18 team, at least among the 2022 draft eligibles.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He is a tough kid, stands up for his teammates and is obviously a leader with some skill. I would be happy if he turned into anything like a David Backes who had a number of really good years offensively. Inside the top 10 would be very surprising for me but would love to see him get there!

He reminds me more of Draisaitl. I know that’s lofty, but the elite passing/shooting tool is that of Draisaitl.