Jets receive another top prospect in return for Rutger McGroarty

UPDATE: NHL insider Elliotte Friedman is now reporting that the Jets will receive former 14th overall pick (2023) Brayden Yager in exchange for McGroarty. Both players were 14th overall picks just a year apart.

Read below for our earlier report on this developing story.

This just in, according to a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Winnipeg Jets have traded top prospect Rutger McGroarty to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

From Friedman:

Standby for official confirmation.

McGroarty was the Jets’ top pick, 14th overall, in the 2022 NHL Draft and was also a Hobey Baker Award nominee this past year. He has 91 points in 75 games with the University of Michigan in the past two seasons. 

He reportedly asked for a trade from Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff as he's not interested in starting his NHL career in Winnipeg. The native of Lincoln, Nebraska now joins a Penguins team that looks like it's doing a bit of a re-tool to its roster. GM Kyle Dubas has been adding young talent all offseason in an effort inject his veteran roster with a boost of youth.

Again, standby for official confirmation on the deal including the return package to Winnipeg.