HIGHLIGHTS
- Winnipeg Jets fans mocked Rutger McGroarty with chants on Sunday
- McGroarty was a former Jets prospect who requested a trade
- Learn more about why McGroarty was mocked in Winnipeg below
Winnipeg Jets fans are holding a grudge against Rutger McGroarty.
McGroarty was drafted in the first round by Winnipeg in 2022 but wasn’t happy with his future role, leading to the youngster asking for an offseason trade. The Jets dealt him to the Pittsburgh Penguins for prospect Brayden Yager.
McGroarty made the Pens out of training camp and played the first three games of the season. However, after failing to record a single point, they sent him down to the AHL this past week.
Well, Jets fans took that as an opportunity to mock the former University of Michigan standout when Pittsburgh was in town on Sunday, chanting “Where is Rutger?”
Ruthless. Take a look:
"Where is Rutger?" chants break out in Winnipeg ☠️
The Penguins sent the ex-Jet to the minors last week. pic.twitter.com/nyzoL49diQ
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 20, 2024
No love lost between Jets supporters and McGroarty, who believed he’d have a better opportunity with the Penguins. Perhaps he might, but for now, he’s in the minors.
Back in May, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff made it clear that McGroarty had to do what was best for his career because there were no guarantees of ice time in Winnipeg. Via The Athletic:
“We made it very open to him at the onset that we were more than willing to sign him, more than willing to turn him pro. But in the same token, we need him to make that decision for what he feels is best for his development,” Cheveldayoff said in May. “I think Rutger is looking for an even bigger role where he can help lead a team to greatness and help his development there.”
McGroarty was a star at Michigan and made the surprising decision to return to Ann Arbor for a third season instead of signing with the Jets. While we’ll never know what could’ve been for him in Winnipeg, McGroarty clearly has his work cut out to carve out a role with the Pens, too.
The Jets won the game 6-3 and remain unbeaten in this young NHL campaign.
