Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff spoke to members of the media yesterday, including Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press, noting that Rutger McGroarty’s camp never disclosed why the 2022 first-round pick was unwilling to sign in Winnipeg despite being asked by the GM multiple times.
“We were at the draft combines and got a text from his agent (Pat Brisson) that he wanted to meet… he informed us that Rutger had said that he didn’t intend to sign,” Cheveldayoff said (via Connor Hrabchak of The Hockey Writers). “That’s the first inkling that we got that there was nothing that was going to come to fruition there. We sat down and asked the agent why, and he said he didn’t have an answer. He didn’t have a reason. I went through a litany of questions to the agent to see – was it player development? Was it that we didn’t burn a year [off his entry-level contract]? He said no, no, no, it just didn’t feel right.”
When the news of McGroarty’s desired exit from Winnipeg first broke before the draft, a league source told Murat Ates of The Athletic that the player felt “his path to the NHL is best suited in another organization.” Ates wrote that the Jets felt the AHL was the best place for McGroarty to play in 2024-25, an outcome he wasn’t interested in. Thus, he returned to the University of Michigan for his junior season. However, he’ll reverse that decision and turn pro after signing his entry-level contract with the Penguins immediately following yesterday’s trade.
But Cheveldayoff’s transparency about his conversations with Brisson indicates this wasn’t a new rift between McGroarty and the Jets, even if it wasn’t brought up until recently. Both Brisson and McGroarty said his hesitations about signing with Winnipeg stemmed from his first development camp showing with the club, Cheveldayoff relayed.
The Jets can be thankful that McGroarty’s stellar play in Ann Arbor the last two seasons helped them get a fair return for his services. A strong all-around forward who can play both center and left wing, he’s coming off a banner 2023-24 campaign that saw him finish second on the Wolverines in scoring with 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists) in 36 games with a +17 rating. He also captained the United States at the World Junior Championship, scoring five goals and four assists for nine points in seven games to lead the Americans to a gold medal.
One of McGroarty’s under-discussed collegiate achievements was his ability to maintain a physical style of play without harming his team by racking up penalty minutes. The Nebraska native racked up 65 PIMs in 54 games during his draft year with the U.S. National U18 Development Team but logged just 24 PIMs in 75 games over his two years in Michigan.
He’s a tough loss, but the Jets recouped another blue-chip forward prospect in Brayden Yager to take his place. He’s not quite as pro-ready as McGroarty, but the 19-year-old could answer Winnipeg’s long-time hole at the second-line center position as soon as 2025-26. After posting 95 points in 57 games with the Western Hockey League’s Moose Jaw Warriors and leading them to their first WHL championship last year, he’ll likely get a long look in the role during training camp and could end up on the opening night roster. A nine-game trial to avoid burning the first year of his entry-level contract is possible for Yager, who needs to be returned to Moose Jaw if he’s not on the NHL roster this season.
Notably, Winnipeg also lands a player eager to return to his Central Canada home. “You see the fan base in Winnipeg, it’s pretty special,” Yager, a Saskatchewan native, told team color analyst Mitchell Clinton. “Especially in the playoffs – the whiteout and everything – it’s crazy. So I’m super excited.”
Sounds like Yager has his head in the right place. Good on Chevy to get a good return on the spoiled kid that McGroarty is.
Another poster envious of a kid taking charge of his career path. Don’t understand why this makes so many of you angry and bitter.
You sound like a union bottom feeder…..probably voted liberal too. I’m from a time and place where you earn your stripes, entitlement doesn’t exist in my world
We all know he just didn’t want to live or play in Winnipeg. This “no clear path to the NHL reason” his agent gave was BS. The Jets didn’t bring back Monahan or Toffoli. There was opportunity there. He just wanted to play in the US without having to earn his way there through free agency. I’d never trade for kid who believes he’s above playing anywhere without earning it.
This is my bigger issue than even the player part. This isn’t the first time a player hasn’t wanted to play for a team that drafted him. What’s new about Rutger and Cutter is not being willing to even truly communicate with their teams. When Lindros did what he did he made it abundantly clear why he was doing it. These agents either refusing to communicate with the team at all in Cutter’s case or refusing to even say what the issue is in Rutger’s unprofessional and unacceptable.
Agents are required to do what their clients want and work in their best interest. They still have to be able to maintain relationships enough with teams as an agent can’t burn a bridge they have other players they need to represent. Be a grown man, look Kevin in the eyes, and tell him why your client refuses to sign.
I mean, if he doesn’t want to be in Winnipeg I can’t blame him. He hasn’t signed a contract so he’s within his right. It’s a different situation if you’re under contract and demanding to be traded and threatening a hold out. These young guys have very little say, I don’t fault them for using the one bit of leverage they have.
It’s not about that though. If he refuses to sign he refuses to sign. He could say he doesn’t like the area the team is, he doesn’t think the franchise is a winning franchise, he doesn’t like the owner, he doesn’t like the coach, he doesn’t think he can develop there, he thinks he can get to the NHL sooner and have a more prominent role elsewhere. Just say it. The team asking why and then refusing to give an answer is not how grown adults behave and deal with others. Askarov had no issue explaining exactly why he wanted a trade.
He’s 20. He probably said something to his agent that wasn’t too pleasant about the city and they agent took the non confrontational route. In the end does it really matter why? Winnipeg is used to this by now. They need to do a better job of making it a place to want to be.
Caring about private matters, like emotions, and cherishing your privacy does not make you any less of an adult. Being unable to communicate your emotions is another matter. I don’t think it’s a fair comparison as one player is fighting for a contract and NHL playing time, and the other (seemingly) just doesn’t want to admit they don’t want to leave the USA.
He’s 20 he’s an adult being offered a contract worth hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Acting like basic communication and responsibility from someone his age after players his age for decades have managed to do so without issue is crazy.
I think you’re making a bigger deal out of something than is necessary. The agent is likely the reason they weren’t told, not the player.
“We sat down and asked the agent why, and he said he didn’t have an answer. He didn’t have a reason. I went through a litany of questions to the agent to see – was it player development? Was it that we didn’t burn a year [off his entry-level contract]? He said no, no, no, it just didn’t feel right.”
Whether it’s the agent, the player, or a combo of both this isn’t acceptable and through the entire history of the NHL up until recently this would never be tolerated and everyone else managed to navigate these situations while actually giving the why. It’s funny how we have all these hockey players from Russia and Belarus and the media is more than happy to put a microphone in their face and ask them questions about geopolitical issues while it seems simply asking “why do you want a trade?” to an American or Canadian player is a Herculean level challenge they can’t be expected to do.
I’m sure your annoyed because it happened to your team, but he is under no obligation to give a reason for not signing a contract. Again if he was signed and refused to hold up his agreement, then that’s different.
This just shows your logic. The only reason anyone could be upset is that it’s their team. I am not a Jets fan and I don’t care about the Jets. You also keep acting as if I’m saying he has to sign when repeatedly I say it’s not about signing it’s about answering the simple question “why do you not want to sign?” Thats it.
Let’s talk about my team the Flyers. Ivan Fedotov was playing in the KHL when one day an unmarked government van showed up, people pulled him inside, told him he had to do military service, shipped him off to Siberia, he ends up in the hospital under weird circumstances no one can explain, and earlier this year managed to get to the US. He was able to answer questions about all that.
Rutger can’t simply answer when asked “why do you not want to sign this contract?”
You have not at any point explained why this case is special or why now players can’t do this basic thing when for decades before players who refused to sign or demand trades could.
Just do away with the draft and let teams sign a specific number of players each year up to certain total dollar level. This way players, like humans not involved in sports, can try to get a job where they want and/or decide to go someplace that fits their needs better. The draft is nothing more than a scam on players.
So the top three prospects each season can choose to sign in NY or LA
And Columbus/Edmonton/insert less desirable market can hardly attract any young players.
Good idea
Ya that works….
You could make it a financial decision where there are is a total amount that can be offered and the less desirable markets could throw the bag at good players. I still don’t think it is a good idea and probably won’t work though.
The NBA tried that. Players were more than willing to give up tens of millions to go to the desired market. In the right market the player can more than make up the difference through sponsorship deals. Columbus was more than willing to pay Panarin. He still refused to sign and ended up eventually in NYC where he wanted to be.
Unfortunately that’s the natural order of things. You can’t always get what you want and players will go where they want if they are wanted there. These cities need to go over and above to attract talent. It’s just necessary.
I’m militantly indifferent to the woes of kids who at the age of 20 earn three quarters of a million dollars minimum. I doubt there’s a single person on this forum who wouldn’t be up for that level of indentured servitude, and if they don’t like it, they can either go to the KHL or be an ordinary working bloke, just like the rest of us.
Keep in mind that despite being paid well even on an entry level contract, they get crap if they are at the ahl level. Also, the lifespan of the average NHL player isn’t long and a lot of these guys have foregone an education or anything that gives them everyday work skills. They need to maximize their earning potential in the short time they have otherwise they could be broke later in life. I do feel for most NHL players because they aren’t set for life in most cases. MLB etc are a different story.
@NHA Trang exactly how is it that a 20 year old being paid that kind of money has to be coddled that he can’t do the basic thing of articulating why he wants out while we have 18 year old army enlistees who are getting $20k a year to start can answer questions from drill sgts yelling in their face? If this guy can’t handle this he can’t handle the NHL.
Canada, Ny and La have massive tax liabilities, look at recent big time players going to Florida, Texas, and Tennessee for less money. Stamkos tkachuk Reinhardt
But the beautiful thing is that many players have the leverage to determine where they work instead of going to the KHL or being whatever an ordinary working bloke is. Good for a couple of them taking charge of their career path.
Acted just like his buddy Gauthier and they think they are entitled.
And they had leverage, used it, and did not have to play where they did not want to play. Good for them. As an added bonus for us, we have gotten to see a bunch of you envious types toss fits and tantrums over it!
When you aren’t under contract, it’s not entitlement. If I told you you could have your dream job, but you’d have to move to Siberia for it would you just go along with it if you had a choice?
Now this is just plain nonsense. We are not talking about our dream job in Siberia. We’re talking kids making several times what our dream jobs likely pay, in large North American cities yet.
Some guys probably think Winnipeg and Edmonton are in Siberia.
We are talking about kids that will only earn that contract for a short period of time. They can’t retire off this and they aren’t ensured of getting a mcdavid contract. They likely will still need a regular job when most of them fail to stick around.
I’m fully aware of where Siberia is. My point is still valid. When you’re 20 do you want to just be stuck in some ahl City with no one you know getting paid a crappy salary and paying Canadian taxes on it? If I can get myself to a better situation and it’s within my rights, I’m doing it
I am generally “pro-labor” when it comes to sports. I side with the players against the owners, against the NCAA, against any rule that prevents someone from freely contracting for his/her services at any reasonable age. But there’s something about situations like this one that smell bad.
I get how an 18 year-old might want to live in NYC or Toronto instead of Winnipeg. But if we’re going to have Winnipegs and Ottawas and Buffaloes in the league, then under the current CBA the only way those teams can win is through smart drafting and management of ELCs and bridge deals. If players can force there way out of signing in the first place, whether they’re like McGroarty or like Adam Fox through the 3 years post-draft exception, then forget it. If Calgary and Buffalo can’t make a smart fourth round draft pick and see it pay off, and be forced to sell on the cheap, then it may as well be EPL soccer. It’s ultimately a decision that’ll be made through collective bargaining, but I would support restricting draft-eligible players from having this kind of leverage. It feels much more appropriate for NFL players to have earlier leverage than teenagers who really haven’t proven themselves yet and who tend to have longer careers.
Separate from that, as a neutral fan I think Chevy did well here and I think that the white-out is super cool. Winnipeg also has a strange number of pretty girls for a windswept prairie town, maybe Rutger should have visited.
I was always a fan of Rutger’s during his USA WJC days, but unless he offers a reason why he forced this trade, it doesn’t look good on him. Does seem to be a “hey, it worked for Cutter, so why not me too?!”.
I do wonder if the coaching change in Winnipeg had something to do with this? Guess we’ll never know.
He just showed his true colours, his captain America title went to his head. Good riddance, give me a good Canadian kid like Yager any day instead of that entitled punk!
Solid tantrum!
Drafts (and team ownership of player rights) are the only reason pro sports are good.
People who think rules don’t apply to them are not.
And I liked Yager. And I hate his name.
So…he’d better be a good player. Prove you’re worth the trouble…
McGroarty will be hitting his peak just as Crosby and Malkin will be retiring. Then the dark years will come as Pitt has an empty farm system only having 2 1st round picks in 10 years.
By then Yager will be rounding into a good 2 way 2nd C with a good crop of talented youngsters complimenting an already good team.
Good trade for everyone except maybe McGroarty long term.
He likely gets traded in his then prime to jump start the Pens restocking of that farm system.
No one wants to play in Winnipeg/Calgary/Ottawa and they certainly don’t want to pay the taxes. Can’t keep star players even when they are winners.
Two of those teams have never won anything. And Calgary won once 34 years ago. So you can’t really use “even when they are winners”.
Scheifele and Hellebuyck?
be careful what you wish for .. that roster looks very old .. and not much in the pipeline to replace them.. how long till he doesn’t want to play in Pittsburgh anymore
I find all this legitimately quite interesting. I thought just a couple weeks ago the issue was clearly stated as he felt he was nhl-ready and the jets didn’t. Aside from that, I think there are a lot of serious questions posed here that are exacerbated by the rapidity of our technology. We want to know the truth but the truth changes through time and casual remarks, sometimes inaccurate, are portrayed as facts. Everything written *appears* to be portrayed as fact, but sometimes it’s just a mistake…that sparks a robust philosophical “discussion” around important topics. I got really fatigued listening to my mom railing against a politician and wringing her metaphorical hands about the truth when it occurred to me that style may be more important. It occurs now, and is observable and participatory. What is “true” often changes, and style does as well, but the curve is softer. Might be nice to hold the grudges a little less tightly. I dunno. The Cutter thing left a bad impression for a lot of reasons, but I could’ve sworn a few weeks ago it was reported there was a rift based on nhl ice time. That’s a reason. Might not be “true”, but feels reasonable, thus I’m kinda looking sideways as Chevy. That said I tend to agree with BlackAce57 and Nha Trang on the other points. Granted, Rutger might not have a long career, but it seems to me presence and communication are much more likely to generate successes than avoidance will. Might also be that Pat Brisson needs another assistant. How many freakin clients does that guy have? Bob Evans, Marie Calendar, Tipsy McStagger, Pat Brisson… the staples. All quite nutritious!
What makes anyone think he hasn’t communicated with the team?
They offered him a contract, he said he wouldn’t sign it. There. That’s all the communication he’s required to give.
No one needs to know why or should care why.
How many of you have turned down job offers and didn’t tell them the truth about why you didn’t take it? Happens every day.
Rutger doesn’t owe the Jets anything beyond a yes or no to the contract offer and he was clear about his intentions to not sign.
Sign of the times.