Once the Michigan hockey team finished its 2024 season in the Frozen Four, announcement after announcement came from players signing entry level contracts with NHL teams.
And during that time, one thing was clear — forward Rutger McGroarty would return to Michigan for his junior season.
However, over the summer, his status with the Jets, who drafted him 14th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, has been up in the air. He wasn’t in Winnipeg for the training camp, and rumors were swarming about if he was still with the Jets.
And after the Penguins traded for McGroarty Thursday afternoon, it was reported that McGroarty signed an entry-level contract with Pittsburgh. McGroarty will forgo his final two seasons of eligibility as a Wolverine to don the Penguins jersey.
McGroarty was vital to the Michigan roster for the past two seasons. In his freshman season, McGroarty tallied 39 points on a line with forwards Adam Fantilli and Gavin Brindley.
McGroarty’s sophomore season as a Wolverine included unexpected troubles. Sustaining a major injury against Penn State in November, McGroarty missed multiple games as the calendar year closed. However, he ended up captaining Team USA to a gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Sweden in late December, tallying nine points in seven games.
When he returned to Michigan, he finished out the season strong, ending his sophomore year with 52 points. He’s a strong presence both on and off the ice, and was a crucial element to the 2023-24 hockey teams roster.
Despite his original announcement to return to the Wolverines roster for his junior season, he’s now retiring the Michigan sweater, trading it in for a Pittsburgh one.
For McGroarty, his answer for collegiate hockey was always Michigan. It was as if there was an invisible string connecting him from his home in Lincoln to Ann Arbor. But now, that string extends to Pittsburgh.
The post Rutger McGroarty signs entry level contract with Penguins appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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