Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported on the 32 Thoughts Podcast that Winnipeg Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty is seeking a trade opening the possibility of the Seattle Kraken joining the sweepstakes.
It was a shock when McGroarty announced he would be heading back to the University of Michigan for his junior season after dominating in his sophomore year. He finished the season with 16 goals and 52 points in just 36 games, which was the ninth most points in the country and he was the driving force that brought his team to the Frozen Four.
The Jets drafted McGroarty with the 14th pick in the 2022 NHL draft. Listed at 6'1, 205 lbs, he was one of the top players on the USNTDP that featured the likes of Cutter Gauthier, Logan Cooley, Jimmy Snuggerud, Frank Nazar and Lane Hutson.
The 20-year-old's game is NHL-ready but his leadership and maturity are of a 10-year veteran. He captained Team USA to gold at the World Juniors this past season and captained Team USA to silver at the U-18s back in 2022.
Some people have speculated that the McGroarty doesn't want to play for the Jets because of the location but multiple reports have stated that this isn't the case whatsoever. The New England-born forward has requested a trade because of the patterns he's noticed with the Jets and their development plan. Watching how the team has deployed previous first-round picks Cole Perfetti and Ville Heinola has worried him and ultimately led to him discussing a possible move.
According to Murat Ates of The Athletic , the Jets wanted to sign him after his second college season but due to the Jets not guaranteeing him a roster spot next season, he decided to return to the Wolverines.
No teams have emerged as a front runner let alone have been linked to the talented prospect but the Kraken's aggressiveness this offseason could be a sign that they may at least be in the mix.
McGroarty has the size and skill set that every team is looking for. He has a relentless drive to win puck battles on the boards and to get to the front of the net. The intangibles he possesses are also a great sign of the future success he can bring to a franchise. It's expected that many teams will be interested in trading for his rights and it's also very likely that he is traded before the NHL draft.
If traded to the right team, the question posed is if McGroarty may be pondering the idea of signing an entry-level contract.
He's a young talent that would fit nicely with the star-studded offensive core that the Kraken are currently assembling.
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