The Pittsburgh Penguins have sent forward Rutger McGroarty to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre Penguins after his short time playing in the NHL. NHL fans, particularly those in Winnipeg, found it somewhat ironic that McGroarty, who forced a trade from the Winnipeg Jets earlier this year, has now been relegated to the AHL.
During his three NHL games, McGroarty did not score and averaged 11:37 of ice time. Concerns about his skating and ability to keep up with the pace of the NHL have lingered since he joined Pittsburgh. This situation serves as a reality check for McGroarty, who previously appeared overly confident about making it to the NHL, only to realize that the team is not convinced of his readiness. A particularly notable incident involved McGroarty getting outplayed by Max Domi from the Toronto Maple Leafs, leading him to crash into the boards. While this incident wasn’t the sole reason for his demotion, it certainly didn’t help his case.
McGroarty had been enthusiastic about joining the Penguins and had praised their development system and veteran guidance. However, the Penguins’ choice to send him down comes just days before he was supposed to play against the Winnipeg Jets, the team that selected him 14th overall in the 2022 draft. Fans quickly pointed out the irony, given McGroarty’s decision to leave the Jets for what he hoped would be a better opportunity in Pittsburgh.
Social media was abuzz with humor regarding McGroarty’s situation, with some jokingly suggesting he might seek another trade after this early setback in the NHL. Others, such as Jeff O’Neill from TSN OverDrive, found amusement in what seemed like karmic retribution for McGroarty.
Despite this challenging start, McGroarty is still viewed as an important prospect for the Penguins, who are hoping he can rebuild his confidence and enhance his skating skills in the AHL.
As for Sunday’s matchup between the Penguins and Jets, the attention has shifted to Bryan Little, who will sign a one-day contract to retire with the Winnipeg team.
