Jets Prospect Rutger McGroarty Rumoured to be Unhappy with Organization

The Winnipeg Jets and prospect Rutger McGroarty appear to be at odds.

On Saturday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman dropped a bombshell his weekly podcast, 32 Thoughts. 

The biggest tidbit of interest to fans of the Winnipeg Jets is that of his piece on prospect Rutger McGroarty.

Selected 14th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Jets, McGroarty has spent the past two seasons at the University of Michigan, and recently announced his decision to return for the 2024-25 season.

“So, I am going to be really careful here, Jeff, because there are a lot of answers I don’t have," Friedman shared on his podcast. 

"His family advisor is not talking, and the Jets are not talking, but the one thing I can tell you is that I have heard his name has come up in trade discussions... The Jets have discussed trading him, and other teams have discussed acquiring McGroarty’s rights.

"Now, you’ll remember a few months ago after the NCAA season, McGroarty announced he was going back to Michigan for his junior year. The Jets have his rights for two more years. Again, I’m not going to guess on anything here but I’m simply going to say that I’ve heard his name has come up in trade conversations.

"So, we’ll see where this all goes over the next couple of weeks. He’s a good player and he would be coveted."

The news comes as a bit of a surprise, but also a revelation that some may have seen coming - based on past experiences with certain youthful Jets prospects.

Cole Perfetti - a fellow first round pick - was yanked from the every day lineup in favour of older, veteran players even through the postseason, despite strong offensive performances.

Defenceman and fellow first round pick, Ville Heinola, has been buried in the minors or the Jets' press box since making his brief NHL debut back in 2019. 

According to those familiar with McGroarty's situation, the decision to stick with Michigan for the coming season is one made due to decisions stemming from Jets management on various prospects' development paths.

Whether or not Winnipeg's rumoured trade offerings - involving McGroarty - are due to an impasse between the team and player, the 20-year-old is certainly not comfortable with where/when the Jets plan to use him in their lineup going forward.

Things appear to have gone off the rails with Winnipeg hoping McGroarty would begin his professional career in the American Hockey League with the Manitoba Moose, while the youngster expected to make the jump directly to the NHL.

Winnipeg, which owns McGroarty's signing rights for two more years, would like to either come to an agreement with its top prospect, or ship him off for the best return as early as possible. 

Last season, the Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks teamed up for a trade involving 2022 No. 5 overall selection Cutter Gauthier, who had no interest in signing with the Flyers. He was dealt to Anaheim for stud defenceman Jamie Drysdale and an early pick.

Should Winnipeg be able to garner as much of a return for McGroarty, the answer appears to be written in the sand on the future of another troubled American forward. 

Should he have no interest in following the Jets' developmental path, now would be the best time to cut bait. 

Other recent college hockey holdouts include that of Jimmy Vesey, Kevin Hayes, Adam Fox and a bit further back in time, Blake Wheeler - each of whom had no desire to sign with their drafting teams.