Confirmed with Link: Rutger McGroarty to Pittsburgh for Brayden Yager

[Mortimer Snerd]

If the team won’t give ice time to Rutger, they won’t give it to a similar prospect who is even younger. Yager is a couple years out at least, and that’s okay. I assume the scouts already talked to Yager in his draft year and see a long-term fit. I trust this is a good move for everyone involved, but will feel warm and fuzzy inside if it doesn’t work out for Rutger the way he hoped.

Jets might have given ice time to Rutger, if he could win a job. They just wouldn't guarantee it before he signed.

But agree Yager is a couple of years out.

 

[roccerfeller]

Ignoring value, upside, and everything else, Yager is an objectively superior hockey name. When he scores, it'll be a Yager-bomb.

View attachment 902578

Edit: I felt way prouder about this joke before I pulled up a highlight reel from his most recent season and the announcer said this like 10 seconds into the video.

Ahahaha amazing

 

[surixon]

So that puts him over the "four seasons in junior" hump?

Given his size though, I wonder if moving him to the pros at this point is the right move? Or do you leave him in place as the big dog in MJ?

They could always start him there and see how he does before moving him to the dub ala what they did with Lambert the year before last.

 

[Factorial]

Penguins fans seem unhappy about this, so I like it!

Most are not and like the trade. The others whine about everything.

 

[KingBogo]

Like the trade even more after going onto the main boards and first Pens fans saying no way Yager would be involved and after the full deal came out, seeing how pissed off most Pens fans were. Love it.

I'm glad this drama is over.
I think we got a decent return, under the circumstances.

I think it is a steal for Chevy under the circumstances.

 

[cg98]

Oh, that's interesting.

I think I still lean toward sending him back to juniors, but it's a discussion worth having. Go back to try to dominate, or go to the AHL to learn what it will be like to play in a more physical league as a slightly undersized player.

So that puts him over the "four seasons in junior" hump?

Given his size though, I wonder if moving him to the pros at this point is the right move? Or do you leave him in place as the big dog in MJ?

I agree, he still lacks the full size, strength and speed to keep up with pros and can still spend the extra season being the true #1 star on his junior team next season. But if the option is there and he suprises everyone in training camp & pre-season and shows hes capable of at least hanging with the pros, I think it would be an interesting option to exercise and he could still be sent to juniors from the AHL.

 

[Upperdeckjet]

An unwanted festering thorn has been removed from my paw and Chevy has given me a new promising prospect to cheer for.

As a Jets fan, I am very pleased and look forward to commentary from Brayden.

 

[nhlpro]

Fkkk Rutger... That is all.

 

[BoneDocUK]

Fine with the trade -- less whine, moar Sask farmboy, seems in line with the recent trend. So does the emphasis on skill however, so hopefully the dev and coaching staff are on board.

Would be extra nice if Yager's allowed to stay a C. Maybe someday he'll turn out to be that elusive 2C candidate the team seems to find so hard to produce.

Best news yet of a quiet offseason, IMO.

 

[DRW204]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1826667349640184310

 

[GNP]

If the team won’t give ice time to Rutger, they won’t give it to a similar prospect who is even younger. Yager is a couple years out at least, and that’s okay. I assume the scouts already talked to Yager in his draft year and see a long-term fit. I trust this is a good move for everyone involved, but will feel warm and fuzzy inside if it doesn’t work out for Rutger the way he hoped.

Edit: it appears Pat Brisson is Rutger’s agent (he’s also PLD’s agent) and was responsible for this shithousery. Not surprised in the least.

That's perfectly OK for the Jets. There is no rush with this Yager guy. We have Lambert and Chibrikov and Salomonson, who are NHL ready, and are damn good players. Give this Yager guy some time to mature, and put on some man size. From what I read, he is on the lean side right now, so this extra time will only help him fill out.

 

[Romang67]

They could always start him there and see how he does before moving him to the dub ala what they did with Lambert the year before last.

Worked really well for Lambert too. Feel like he got an idea of what the AHL would be like, got to get his confidence back in the WHL, and did really well in the AHL last season.

Of course, he was a bit of a different case, as his confidence was clearly in the tank following a couple of years of not really improving.

 

[Jetabre]

Got a prospect of similar value back.. considering everything Chevy has done well once again on a trade

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Like the trade even more after going onto the main boards and first Pens fans saying no way Yager would be involved and after the full deal came out, seeing how pissed off most Pens fans were. Love it.


I think it is a steal for Chevy under the circumstances.

Chevy's trades are always like the 6'7 guy who skates well for his size. Good deals, under the circumstances.
I think McGroarty has the potential to be a real game changer in the NHL. Time will tell on that.
Does Yager have that kind of ceiling? I don't think so. But, again time will tell. I would like him better if he were 2-3 inches taller and 20-30 lbs heavier.
EP talked about nothing but his shot. How's his skating? His 2 way play?

He'll have some good linemates to play with in Wpg. McGro might be pretty much alone for a few years in Pitt after Crosby and Malkin are gone.

 

[Buffdog]

Depends how badly Rutger was wanted around the league, I guess... he's a solid prospect but it's hard to imagine there was a bidding war for him.

Sounds like at least Minnesota and Montreal had interest

 

[TS Quint]

Agree, and we need to build some depth at that Center position, so maybe Yager works out well. Don't know much about him tho, but Pitt has done a good job of scouting talent in the past.

It's been a long time since Guentzel and Jarry. Even the head scout who took Yager isn't there.

 

[Guardian17]

 

[Buffdog]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1826667349640184310

I'm maybe most happy for Murat. Finally one of his predictions around this whole Mcgroarty thing came true!

 

[MarkWheeler]

Even if Yager is close in terms of potential I’ll take it. And a big old f*** you to Rutger. Comes off like a giant d bag. I hate when kids who have proved absolutely nothing dictate where they want to play. Maybe this team should pump the brakes on drafting Americans. Always seem to be the ones that become a problem and want out.

 

[Edgar Halliwax]

Hopefully, since he's from Sask, he'll be okay playing in a Canadian market. I wish McG the best, I wish Yager even more success with us

 

[surixon]

Chevy's trades are always like the 6'7 guy who skates well for his size. Good deals, under the circumstances.
I think McGroarty has the potential to be a real game changer in the NHL. Time will tell on that.
Does Yager have that kind of ceiling? I don't think so. But, again time will tell. I would like him better if he were 2-3 inches taller and 20-30 lbs heavier.
EP talked about nothing but his shot. How's his skating? His 2 way play?

He'll have some good linemates to play with in Wpg. McGro might be pretty much alone for a few years in Pitt after Crosby and Malkin are gone.

I mean he's the same size as McGroarty and is quicker.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Hopefully, since he's from Sask, he'll be okay playing in a Canadian market. I wish McG the best, I wish Yager even more success with us

Wpg is 3 times the size of S'toon and 20 times the size of MJ. He is coming to the big city, the big smoke, the bright lights.

 

[ps241]

I am interested to hear what @Daximus and @Joe Hallenback have to say.

I do like Rutger the power forward more as a prospect but this beats the hell out of a 2nd round pick two years from now. I think on balance the return is fair.

 

[Romang67]

Chevy's trades are always like the 6'7 guy who skates well for his size. Good deals, under the circumstances.
I think McGroarty has the potential to be a real game changer in the NHL. Time will tell on that.
Does Yager have that kind of ceiling? I don't think so. But, again time will tell. I would like him better if he were 2-3 inches taller and 20-30 lbs heavier.
EP talked about nothing but his shot. How's his skating? His 2 way play?

He'll have some good linemates to play with in Wpg. McGro might be pretty much alone for a few years in Pitt after Crosby and Malkin are gone.

From what I have seen, his devotion to two-way play has, if anything, been so severe it may have hindered his offensive production. It is also one of the weakest parts of his game. His skating is very strong, to the point where he might be one of the best skaters in that draft. It's also unimpressive at best. His shot is excellent, but it's also only okay and his release leaves much to be desired.

Scouting reports are a bit mixed on this guy.

 

[Buffdog]

Do we have to re-do the prospect poll? Where would Brayden Yager end up?

He's top 3 with Lambert and Salomonsson

No need to redo the whole thing