Prospect Info: Rutger McGroarty, 2022 NHL Draft, #14 Overall

[JonS]

I am really excited about this prospect. Glad he didn't get traded for something at the deadline.

 

[Buffdog]

Whenever I get excited about Rutger and his freshman ppg season, I look back at KFC's and it brings me back to reality a bit.

Solid prospect, but still at least one year in NCAA and one year in the AHL away. Could be longer

 

[ps241]

The only knock on McGroarty at the draft was his skating and to be clear I don’t think of it as a problem as much as an opportunity. I think it’s best to let him keep developing in college where he will get plumb usage and have more time to work on the physical development. He’s the prospect I am most excited about in our pool.

 

[GaryPoppins]

Maybe Chevy wanted to sign him and this is his camp's way of saying we want those bonuses that you won't give us?

Or the Jets know they won’t be competitive next year so giving more time to marinate. Rutger likely knows he can sign anytime he wants; likely he feels he’s not ready and that’s okay. Self awareness is seldom a negative trait.

 

[bustamente]

Best move he could make, kid is going to be a good player, will he be great time will tell, just the same I would rather keep him and our other prospects away from the current group until management can weed out the loafers and malcontents.

 

[Thechozen1]

I am really excited about this prospect. Glad he didn't get traded for something at the deadline.

Don’t think there was ever a real threat of him being involved in a trade. Chevy holds onto his 1st round drafted prospects with a death grip.

 

[Thechozen1]

I’m one of the bigger McGroarty fans even before the Jets picked him, but I do wonder if there’s a dip in production next season if Fantilli jumps directly into the NHL.

Perhaps his own growth as player will offset that. Just wondering out loud if there’s that potential. Saying this without knowing how many times they actually connected together for points.

Regardless, excited to see him take on a larger role. Kid is high IQ and has character in spades.

 

[Joe Hallenback]

Whenever I get excited about Rutger and his freshman ppg season, I look back at KFC's and it brings me back to reality a bit.

Solid prospect, but still at least one year in NCAA and one year in the AHL away. Could be longer

There just different players who will do different things for you. I don't think McGroarty is ever going to be this dynamic shooter that Connor is but at the same time I think he is likely going to be a guy who does produce but in a much different and much needed way

 

[Atoyot]

I’m one of the bigger McGroarty fans even before the Jets picked him, but I do wonder if there’s a dip in production next season if Fantilli jumps directly into the NHL.

Perhaps his own growth as player will offset that. Just wondering out loud if there’s that potential. Saying this without knowing how many times they actually connected together for points.

Regardless, excited to see him take on a larger role. Kid is high IQ and has character in spades.

McGroarty only played on Fantilli's wing for the final third or quarter of the season. Most of his time and production came on the second line.

There goes Hughes on the back end in any case. Figure they'll leave Casey there for another year though.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Whenever I get excited about Rutger and his freshman ppg season, I look back at KFC's and it brings me back to reality a bit.

Solid prospect, but still at least one year in NCAA and one year in the AHL away. Could be longer

Not a very good comparison. KC has always been an offensive specialist. McG is more of a 2 way player.

I hope he works on his skating in the off-season and comes back to have a dominant season at U Mich.

 

[Thechozen1]

Not a very good comparison. KC has always been an offensive specialist. McG is more of a 2 way player.

I hope he works on his skating in the off-season and comes back to have a dominant season at U Mich.

Agreed. Connor is a more offensively skilled player. I see McGroarty more in the mould of a Shane Doan type and if he gets close to that I’ll be very happy. This team needs more of that!!!

 

[Atoyot]

Agreed. Connor is a more offensively skilled player. I see McGroarty more in the mould of a Shane Doan type and if he gets close to that I’ll be very happy. This team needs more of that!!!

Good comparison, my mind usually goes to Jamie Benn, especially if he's going to stay on the wing.

 

[ps241]

I watched allot of KFC in his MIchigan year and he was the most dynamic offensive player in the NCAA on a really good line and he was totally allergic to defensive play . He flat out didn’t defend at all. From an offensive standpoint Kyle couldn’t learn much more in the NCAA so it made sense for him to go to the Moose for the season. McGroarty has nothing in common with Connor stylistically. I agree Rutger is more of the Benn Doan prototype physically. Kyle scores and dazzles but the rest of his game is still a liability (you eat the tradeoff and hope he out scores his flaws). McGroarty will be more involved in the game in all three zones.

Power forward vs a scoring winger.

 

[surixon]

Yeah to me he is a Bennett type. Has some skill but it will be that in combination with grit and smarts that will make him effective.

He's our Hyman type gritty top 6 winger or a Fisher/Bennett type center.

Probably not a star but a potentially valuable piece.

 

[JetsFan815]

Whenever I get excited about Rutger and his freshman ppg season, I look back at KFC's and it brings me back to reality a bit.

Solid prospect, but still at least one year in NCAA and one year in the AHL away. Could be longer

Connor's NCAA season is an aberration. Normal good NCAA forward prospects are around a PPG or slightly higher in D+1 seasons. The Connor season can't be used as comparable not only because Connor is an elite score but also that Michigan team was loaded, he played on a line with 2 other future NHL players and both guys were older. Most other NCAA forwards that have gone on to become decent NHL players have usually been aroung PPG or even lower eg Beniers, Tuch, Boldy, Farabee.

 

[Atoyot]

Yeah to me he is a Bennett type. Has some skill but it will be that in combination with grit and smarts that will make him effective.

He's our Hyman type gritty top 6 winger or a Fisher/Bennett type center.

Probably not a star but a potentially valuable piece.

He'll need to work on his foot speed to be a Bennett/Hyman type. I feel like he has a high ~3rd line floor, can't imagine him not making it in some capacity with how he plays and sees the game.

 

[surixon]

He'll need to work on his foot speed to be a Bennett/Hyman type. I feel like he has a high ~3rd line floor, can't imagine him not making it in some capacity with how he plays and sees the game.

Mike Richard's is another comp. Richard's didn't hav3 the foot speed either but carved out a good career as a top 6 C.

I'd agree that very good 3C seems to be a likely projection. I think he can get to being a valuable second liner if he can improve his foot speed

 

[Atoyot]

Connor's NCAA season is an aberration. Normal good NCAA forward prospects are around a PPG or slightly higher in D+1 seasons. The Connor season can't be used as comparable not only because Connor is an elite score but also that Michigan team was loaded, he played on a line with 2 other future NHL players and both guys were older. Most other NCAA forwards that have gone on to become decent NHL players have usually been aroung PPG or even lower eg Beniers, Tuch, Boldy, Farabee.

Connor's team wasn't nearly as loaded as McGroarty's this season and honestly that probably didn't help McGroarty's numbers. Connor was relied on to create most of the offense on his team, Motte and Compher's numbers exploded because of Connor. McGroarty played second line most of the season. Werenski was really the only other high tier player on Connor's team.

 

[Heldig]

Mike Richard's is another comp. Richard's didn't hav3 the foot speed either but carved out a good career as a top 6 C.

I'd agree that very good 3C seems to be a likely projection. I think he can get to being a valuable second liner if he can improve his foot speed

Game is a lot faster now. Richards might not have made the NHL in today's game.

 

[Joe Hallenback]

Game is a lot faster now. Richards might not have made the NHL in today's game.

Neither would Gretzky or Lemieux by that measurement

"Fast" is relative. McGroarty isn't a speedster but his speed at his current level was more than fine. If this was 25 years ago he would be considered a speedster

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Agreed. Connor is a more offensively skilled player. I see McGroarty more in the mould of a Shane Doan type and if he gets close to that I’ll be very happy. This team needs more of that!!!

I'm hoping for a PL Dubois replacement.

 

[Scheifele55]

So far McGroarty has been averaging 2 points per game whereas Frank Nazar who was taken before him and some thought Winnipeg was truly after him is not even averaging 1 PPG on the same Michigan team.

 

[Atoyot]

So far McGroarty has been averaging 2 points per game whereas Frank Nazar who was taken before him and some thought Winnipeg was truly after him is not even averaging 1 PPG on the same Michigan team.

Nazar missed most of last year due to injury and is further down the depth chart as a result. Big fan of McGroarty but Nazar has a much higher ceiling if everything comes together for him.

And now he's a PPG

 

[MardyBum]

Nazar missed most of last year due to injury and is further down the depth chart as a result. Big fan of McGroarty but Nazar has a much higher ceiling if everything comes together for him.

And now he's a PPG

Eh, if we're going for predraft ceilings Lambert blows them both out and is outperforming both . I've watched two Michigan games and Rutger gets the 3rd* assist on so many plays, he's the guy flying in to dig the puck out, or getting into the zone to start the play. Very impressive growth from him.

He's what the Jets need for a winger prospect.

 

[JetsFan815]

So far McGroarty has been averaging 2 points per game whereas Frank Nazar who was taken before him and some thought Winnipeg was truly after him is not even averaging 1 PPG on the same Michigan team.

I wanted Nazar as well during the draft. Now I am very happy with McGroarty. Nazar is a good prospect too though by all accounts.