According to multiple sources, the Jets have been shopping high-end prospect Rutger McGroarty.
The Jets are reportedly looking to trade top prospect Rutger McGroarty, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and The Athletic’s Murat Ates.
The topic first entered arose when Friedman spoke to rumours he had heard that McGroarty had come up in trade talks, despite his rights belonging to Winnipeg for two more seasons as a drafted prospect.
“I’m not going to guess on anything here but I’m simply going to say that I’ve heard his name come up in trade conversations,” Friedman said on his podcast, 32 Thoughts.
This was again echoed by Ates, who put out a piece on The Athletic confirming the rumour after hearing it to be true from a league source.
Friedman spoke on the story again in the most recent episode of his podcast on Tuesday morning, now with more firm belief that the trade will happen and could be done before the draft on Friday.
“I think it could happen before the draft,” he said “Someone told me, 'be ready'.”
Winnipeg hasn’t been the most advantageous location for prospects in recent memory. This past postseason, 2020 first round pick Cole Perfetti was pulled from the lineup in favour of veteran forwards despite having a great 19-goal campaign as a 22-year-old.
Winnipeg also hasn't given much rope to its 2019 first round pick, Ville Heinola, who has played just 35 NHL games over four seasons with the team.
McGroarty announced in mid-April that he would be returning to Michigan University for his junior season, which signalled to some that the Jets and McGroarty had different plans in terms of his development.
This was confirmed by Friedman, saying that he may have some envy for NHL action after having teammates make their debut.
“The McGroarty thing broke down at the end of his season. Some of his teammates in Michigan, Frank Nazar was one of them, made their NHL debuts with Nazar doing his in Chicago, they had nothing to play for,” Friedman said.
He went on to say it was difficult for the Jets to bring up McGroarty for his debut as the team was in the midst of trying to get a higher playoff seed.
“Then you hear next year, we aren’t sure if you are ready yet and not guaranteed a spot and if you have your choice of going back to a third year in Michigan or going to the AHL in Manitoba, I don’t know what 20 or 21-year-old who wouldn’t pick going back to Michigan and I think that’s where it broke down,” he said.
McGroarty will likely want to go somewhere that he can find some NHL ice-time. The situation is similar to the Philadelphia Flyers and Cutter Gauthier, who was unhappy with his situation and moved to a more favourable spot in Anaheim, where he will be in a more prominent role.
The Jets re-signed Dylan DeMelo Tuesday and a McGroarty trade could bring in another addition to the blueline to secure their top-four for next season, along with adding some much-needed draft capital as they have no first or third round picks this year.