A shocker from the Penguins yesterday, as they traded their top prospect, Brayden Yager, to Winnipeg for the Jets’ top young prospect, Rutger McGroarty.
Both forwards were the number 14 overall selections in the NHL Draft, McGroarty in 2022 and Yager in ’23.
McGroarty is 20 years old and from Lincoln, Nebraska. He has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Penguins, carrying a $950,000 salary cap hit according to the tracking site Puck Pedia.
McGroarty was engaged in a bitter dispute with Winnipeg over their development plans for him and refused to sign with them or attend their development camp this summer. He scored 16 goals with 36 assists with Michigan in college hockey this past season and was captain of the gold medal-winning Team USA at the World Junior Championships.
Pens President and General Manager Kyle Dubas said trading Yager was “a difficult decision” but McGroarty has “the combination of ability, leadership and competitiveness that the Penguins need.”
The Penguins yesterday also signed defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov to a professional tryout contract. He’s played 81 career games in the NHL, all with San Jose, and was released in June. He played for new Penguins assistant David Quinn, who was the Sharks’ head coach the last two seasons.
Penguins prospect Emil Pieniniemi has signed to pay North American hockey with Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League. The defenseman is also on a three-year entry-level contract with the Pens after being chosen in the third round of the 2023 Draft.
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