Rutger McGroarty

July 2022 – McGroarty has been selected by the Winnipeg Jets with the 14th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Nick Richard

December 2021 – McGroarty entered the season touted as a potential top-10 pick and while I don’t think he has played poorly, I do think he has been surpassed by a number of prospects in this class – including a few on his own team. He spent a significant portion of last season with the U18 team as well, suiting up for 19 games and registering six points, but hasn’t taken charge this season the way I think guys like Cooley, Nazar, and Howard have. Nick Richard

September 2021 – Rutger McGroarty debuted with the USNTDP in 2020-21 and starred for the U17 team, totaling 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in 34 games. His play earned him a call up to the U18 team where he registered six points in 19 contests, setting the stage for him to represent his country at the U18 World Championships last spring. McGroarty will return to the USNTDP team in 2021-22 and appears poised to take on a more prominent role in his draft year.

McGroarty is one of the most complete prospects in the 2022 draft class. He has good size, skates fairly well, competes hard, and has plenty of offensive skill. He blends a power game with finesse, able to take the puck to the net and finish with his soft hands. His shot is heavy and comes off of his stick quickly, making him a scoring threat on the inside as well as from the perimeter. McGroarty is a powerful skater who forces his way around defenders and keeps his feet moving to effectively hunt pucks on the forecheck but his feet can be a bit heavy at times. He is more than willing to engage physically, taking intelligent routes and finishing his checks with authority. A handful along the boards, he has the strength, puck skills, and quick first step to come away with contested pucks and make plays off the wall. McGroarty is strong on the puck and difficult to knock off of his feet. He positions himself well in front of the opposing net and boxes out defenders to capitalize on rebounds or loose pucks. Known more for his shot, he also has decent vision and knows how to deceive defenders to open up passing lanes, but is sometimes guilty of trying to do too much on his own. There are players with better raw tools in the 2022 draft but McGroarty’s well-rounded game and offensive upside have him on an early trajectory towards being a top-10 pick. Nick Richard