Michigan hockey coach offers measured expectations as Rutger McGroarty prepares for Penguins preseason camp

As the dust settled following the Pittsburgh Penguins’ recent acquisition of 20-year-old forward Rutger McGroarty from Winnipeg, the consensus seemed to be he’ll hit the ground running at his first NHL preseason camp.

To be sure, the former Jets top prospect joined the Penguins with the intention of competing for NHL minutes this season.

As the 14th overall pick by the Jets in 2022 and following two strong years with the Michigan Wolverines, not to mention two additional seasons spent with the United States National Development Team, McGroarty has pedigree worthy of excitement.

Brandon Naurato can speak to McGroarty’s abilities better than most.

Entering his third year at the helm in Ann Arbor, he coached McGroarty as a freshman and sophomore at Michigan in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

For Naurato, McGroarty is about to face a major test at Penguins preseason camp.

“I think Rutger is just as ready as any rookie prospect coming into the league,” Naurato said. “I think talking about playing on Sidney Crosby’s line and being in the top six, I’m rooting for him, but (the NHL is) the best league in the world. If he does that, good for him, but it’ll be extremely difficult.”

McGroarty, who captained the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound left-handed shot.

How he will fare in an NHL camp ultimately remains to be seen, but Naurato pointed out several aspects of his game and personality that can come in handy once it’s time to hit the ice with the Penguins in mid-September.

“Rutger is a leader,” Naurato said. “I think he’s a guy that brings that energy to the locker room and to practice. Loves the game of hockey, is a student of the game and it’s contagious. He brings the fire on the rink when he’s working.

“Power forward, he can score, he can make plays, he’s physical. He does a little bit of everything. I’m excited to watch his path and his progress early and as his career develops.”

At every step in his career, McGroarty has displayed solid scoring touch.

He contributed five goals and four assists for the U.S. this year at the World Juniors and averaged 1.21 points per game over his two collegiate seasons, helping the Wolverines to back-to-back Frozen Four appearances.

Potentially less well-rounded than McGroarty’s physical tools and offensive ability is his skating.

NHL Draft/prospects reporter Scott Wheeler of The Athletic recently addressed concerns over McGroarty’s wheels with TribLive’s Tim Benz.

“I don’t think it’s an issue or something that’s going to hold him back, but he’s not going to be the fastest player on the ice, either,” Wheeler told Benz.

“You’re not getting Carl Hagelin, for example, or Kasperi Kapanen (or) Jeff Carter in his heyday. He doesn’t have that pull-away straight-line speed. But he makes up for it with his work ethic, with how well-rounded his game is, and I think he’s going to be an impactful, tough top-nine player for a long, long time in the NHL.”

Monday's @Alteredgenius @BarberSchoolPIT #BreakfastWithBenz hockey podcast featuring @scottcwheeler of The Athletic https://t.co/Xz2I18NR8Z on the prospect swap in the Pens-Jets trade @FansFirstSN

— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) August 26, 2024

Naurato was complimentary of McGroarty’s skating as well as efforts to better himself in that department.

If it is indeed fair to label his skating skills as a question mark, answers will be visible once McGroarty gets underway in camp.

“I think Rutger gets pegged with his skating because it doesn’t look pretty, but I’ve got a lot of video clips of Rutger using his skating to create space,” Naurato said.

“He does a really good job with it. It’s something he’s worked on, it’s something that he’ll continue to work on. Does it need to improve? Sure. Everyone can get bigger, faster, stronger.”

McGroarty was a major component of Michigan’s top-ranked power play last season.

With the Penguins, Naurato thinks McGroarty could excel at either the bumper slot or in front of the net.

He also made note of the improvements McGroarty made from freshman to sophomore year with the Wolverines.

“Just puck protection, overall body positioning, extending plays along the wall,” Naurato said. “He’s always worked hard and been physical. I would just say managing the puck, taking care of the puck and developing more of an offensive zone game, a down-low game as that power forward versus just being a really good player off the rush.”

McGroarty is sure to arrive in Pittsburgh with optimism and energy after taking stock of his new surroundings.

While nothing regarding his prospects as an NHLer is guaranteed, he soon will have the chance to prove he can be a viable puzzle piece for the Penguins in 2024-25.

“Once he plays at that NHL pace in camp and preseason, he’s really going to have an idea of where he needs to add or how he can self-evaluate,” Naurato said.