Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins Swap Top Prospects: Report

The Winnipeg Jets are trading top prospect Rutger McGroarty to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Brayden Yager, according to a report.

Rutger McGroarty is currently the elephant in the room for the Winnipeg Jets' prospect pool, but there's a lot to like from this group, says Tony Ferrari.

Update: Not only did the Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins make the trade official Thursday afternoon, but Pittsburgh then signed Rutger McGroarty to an entry-level contract.

“We had a difficult decision to make with this trade because we hold Brayden Yager in such a high regard as a person and prospect,” Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said in a press release. “After much consideration, we decided that the opportunity to add Rutger McGroarty was ultimately in the best interest of the Penguins. He possesses the combination of ability, leadership and competitiveness that the Penguins need to achieve our goals in the short and long run. We look forward to welcoming Rutger and his family to the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins.”

The Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins are making a 1-for-1 prospects trade on Thursday.

Winnipeg is trading right wing Rutger McGroarty to Pittsburgh in exchange for center Brayden Yager, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Both players were selected 14th overall in the NHL draft, with the Jets taking McGroarty in 2022 and the Penguins getting Yager in 2023.

McGroarty has been the subject of trade speculation since Friedman said he heard his name in trade talks ahead of the 2024 NHL draft. McGroarty previously announced he'd return to the NCAA and the University of Michigan for a third year instead of signing an entry-level contract with Winnipeg and turning professional.

The Hockey News ranked both players as the top prospects in their respective organizations in the 2024 Future Watch issue. Yager was also ranked the 26th-best NHL prospect by a panel of scouts and directors of player personnel, based on who has the best upside five to 10 years from now. McGroarty, meanwhile, ranked 35th.

Last season, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound McGroarty recorded 16 goals and 36 assists for 52 points in 36 games with the Michigan Wolverines, finishing eighth in the NCAA in points per game (1.44). He also contributed five goals and nine points as captain of Team USA's gold medal-winning world junior team.

Yager, meanwhile, had 35 goals and 60 assists for 95 points in 57 games for the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors in 2023-24. His 1.67 points per game ranked him eighth among WHL players, and he helped lead his team to the WHL championship with 11 goals and 27 points in 20 games. Yager was also at the world juniors, recording two goals and five points in five games for Canada.

Stay tuned for more coverage and analysis of the trade and each player at THN.com and THN.com/teams.

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