Penguins trade top prospect Brayden Yager for top Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty

The Pittsburgh Penguins are finalizing a trade for top prospect Rutger McGroarty, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

The deal is a bombshell as Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas has traded his top prospect Brayden Yager to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for McGroarty.

Yager, 19, was the Penguins 2023 first-round selection (14th overall).

McGroarty, 20, was the 14th overall pick by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL Draft but has been at odds with the organization over his NHL debut. McGroarty reportedly wants to turn pro and play in the NHL as his teammates at the University of Michigan have done. However, Winnipeg planned to start him in the AHL.

Those Michigan teammates have included Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, and Frank Nazar of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Thus far in the NHL offseason, the only Penguins trades have been accepting salary dumps. President of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas acquired a 2026 second-round pick from St. Louis, as well as the Ottawa Senators’s 2025 third-round pick from St. Louis for accepting Kevin Hayes and his $3.5 million cap hit.

Dubas also acquired Cody Glass and his $2.5 million salary from the Nashville Predators, who included a third-round pick to make the trade.

This would be the first pure acquisition.

McGroarty is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound right wing with a left-handed shot. Last season, he scored 16 goals and 52 points in just 36 games for Michigan.

A college hockey scout told Pittsburgh Hockey Now: “He uses his size to create space and then facilitates. Better passer than a shooter. Will go to the front of the net. Very mature game.”

In April, Winnipeg beat writer Mike McIntyre reported that at least one trade fell through because of McGroarty’s demands to play in the NHL.