The Pittsburgh Penguins have completed a whirlwind day. Pittsburgh has inked the Rutger McGroarty contract with the highly-touted prospect. McGroarty was acquired earlier in the day from the Winnipeg Jets. This deal is an entry-level contract for three years. It carries an average cap hit of $950,000. However, there is also a performance bonus of $500,000 according to Puckpedia.
Welcome to Pittsburgh! ✍️
The Penguins have signed Rutger McGroarty to a three-year, Entry-Level Contract. pic.twitter.com/lpACZ7dB0e
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 22, 2024
Rutger McGroarty Contract Signed by Penguins
McGroarty was a standout at the University of Michigan for two seasons. The 20-year-old had 34 goals, 57 assists and 91 points in 75 games with the Wolverines. He totaled 36 assists and 52 points in his sophomore campaign in Ann Arbor.
The Lincoln, Neb. native also helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships in Sweden. He posted five goals and nine points in seven games for the Americans.
The former 14th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft was traded for Brayden Yager earlier in the day. Yager was also selected 14th overall, but he was selected in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Penguins.
What It Means
Pittsburgh and General Manager Kyle Dubas can now see what McGroarty is made of. It’s been an active day for the former NCAA standout, but now he can focus on the business of hockey.
McGroarty comes in with a world of talent and the Penguins need to think about the future. Pittsburgh does plenty of veteran players, but Dubas getting McGroarty was a big coup. These veteran players won’t last forever and McGroary seems to have all the tools to be a future cornerstone of the franchise.
The Penguins still have to figure out where future Hall of Famer and captain Sidney Crosby fits into the big picture. However, getting McGroarty means the team is already thinking a few years down the way.
Main photo by: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
