Rutger McGroarty Prospect Writeup
- dbuckley757
- Apr 17
- 4 min read
In a league where finesse and speed often steal the spotlight, Rutger McGroarty stands out as a throwback power forward with the grit and skill to carve out a lasting NHL career. Traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Winnipeg Jets in August 2024, the 21-year-old Nebraska native brings a blend of physicality, leadership, and offensive instincts that has Penguins fans eager for his arrival. While his college dominance showcased his ability to overpower opponents, McGroarty’s path to the NHL is a reminder that size alone doesn’t guarantee stardom, but his well-rounded game ensures he’ll find a home in the pros.
(Rutger flattens a player in the world juniors tournament)
Born March 30, 2004, in Lincoln, Nebraska, McGroarty defied the odds as the first player from his state to join the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP). His two seasons there were a masterclass in offensive production, with 35 goals and 34 assists in 54 games during 2021-22, leading the team in goals. His leadership shone as captain of Team USA at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 World Championships, where he posted eight goals and nine points in six games, earning a silver medal and top-three player honors.
(Rutger showcasing his physical prowess)
At the University of Michigan, McGroarty’s physical maturity gave him an edge. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, he dominated Big Ten competition, amassing 91 points (34 goals, 57 assists) in 75 games over two seasons. His 2023-24 season, 52 points in 36 games, highlighted his ability to leverage his size, bulling through defenders and parking in front of nets. Yet, college hockey’s smaller rinks and less disciplined defenses can inflate a player’s impact when physical development outpaces peers. History shows that some prospects who rely heavily on size in college, like former NCAA standouts who topped out as AHLers, struggle in the NHL, where speed, skill, and adaptability trump raw power. McGroarty, however, seems poised to avoid this trap, with a game built on more than just physicality.
Trade to Pittsburgh and a New Chapter
Selected 14th overall by Winnipeg in 2022, McGroarty’s tenure with the Jets ended abruptly when development disagreements led to a trade to Pittsburgh for prospect Brayden Yager. Signed to a three-year entry-level deal, he’s splitting 2024-25 between the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (six goals, 16 assists in 39 games) and brief NHL call-ups, including a goal and an assist in four games with Pittsburgh. He seemed out of place earlier in the season, and was buried on the 4th line, but his current call up he was often featured in a top 6 role.
McGroarty’s style is defined by relentless energy and a knack for high-danger areas. His heavy shot and soft hands make him a scoring threat, while his physicality, think crunching hits and puck battles, creates space for linemates. His skating, once a concern, has improved, with better edgework helping him navigate tight spaces. While not a burner, he’s effective driving wide or cutting to the slot. His hockey IQ shines in puck protection and playmaking, but he is a little take locked in his decision making. He will often not find open lanes and try to rely to much on his size and strength and carry the puck to long instead of the better high quality play. If his finesse and playmaking don't translate to the NHL which often happens with bigger framed early to mature players in college, he will still carve out a physical role in the NHL which insulates his fantasy relevance at least for banger fantasy leagues.
However, McGroarty’s physical dominance in college, where he could muscle past smaller players, won’t translate as easily against NHL blueliners who match his size and add elite speed. Prospects who peak early physically often face a steeper adjustment, unable to lean solely on brawn. McGroarty’s edge lies in his versatility, forechecking, cycling, or tipping pucks, ensuring he’s not a one-dimensional power forward doomed to plateau.
(Rutger finding a spot in front of the net sand burying a clutch goal)
NHL Outlook: A Surefire Role Player With Upside
Make no mistake: Rutger McGroarty is an NHL lock. While he may not hit the 70-point stratosphere of a superstar, his floor is a dependable middle-six winger who brings 40-50 points, physicality, and leadership. Expect him to be deployed primarily as a winger, using his size and shot to drive offense on the second or third line, much like Pittsburgh’s current depth scorers. That said, his hockey sense and tenacity could see him take brief stints at center, especially in matchup roles or injury fill-ins, offering flexibility akin to a Swiss Army knife forward.
In Pittsburgh, McGroarty’s gritty style complements stars like Sidney Crosby, and coach Mike Sullivan’s system, which values forechecking and puck possession, suits him perfectly. His AHL seasoning is refining his defensive game, and by 2025-26, he’s likely a full-time Penguin, possibly logging 15-17 minutes a night. “He’s got that ‘it’ factor, teammates rally around him,” Sullivan said after a recent call-up. Fans should temper expectations of a point-per-game phenom, but expect a player who is going to find himself as a bonafide NHL mainstay.
Comparison: Rutger McGroarty vs. Scott Laughton
To understand McGroarty’s potential, look at Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton, a versatile veteran with a similar mold. Both players, at 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-2 respectively, play with an edge, excelling in board battles and net-front chaos. Laughton’s career-high 43 points (2022-23) mirrors the 40-50-point range McGroarty could hit, though McGroarty’s superior shot and finesse hint at a slight offensive edge, perhaps pushing 55 points in a top-six role. Like Laughton, who’s toggled between wing and center (taking 50% faceoff draws), McGroarty is likely to stick on the wing but could see spot duty down the middle, especially in defensive or penalty-kill ff situations. Laughton’s 200-foot reliability, including shorthanded minutes, is a target for McGroarty, whose penalty-kill time is growing in the AHL. McGroarty’s trajectory points to a comparable role: a hard-nosed, adaptable forward who’s more than the sum of his stats.
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