Instead of following his University of Michigan teammates like Gavin Brindley, Frank Nazar and Dylan Duke to the NHL, Winnipeg Jets top prospect Rutger McGroarty announced he will return to Michigan for the 2024-25 season of the NCAA.
McGroarty, picked 14th by the Jets in the 2022 NHL Draft, ended his season with a semifinal loss to Boston College on April 11 at the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota. His advisors had met with Michigan as well as the Jets in the days since then, discussing plans for next season, with the 20-year-old forward ultimately opting to return to Michigan.
Rutger McGroarty announces his return to the University of Michigan for the 2024-25 season!#Go blue〽️ pic.twitter.com/4SU9jG4e3b
– Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) April 15, 2024
It’s a move that will worry some Jets fans, considering how many Wolverines stars have already signed with the NHL. Jets fans will also remember former Winnipeg prospect Nathan Smith; The Jets’ 2018 third-round pick was traded to Arizona in 2022 after it became clear he didn’t want to sign in Winnipeg.
A league source says Athleticism that this is not what is expected for McGroarty: McGroarty’s decision was made with his development in the NHL and a possible spot on the Jets team in mind.
The opportunity to expand his role as a third-year player at Michigan is clear; with other stars like Brindley, Duke and Nazar signing in the NHL, McGroarty will be counted on to generate results. There is also the possibility of being named captain since Jacob Truscott just finished his fourth year.
Meanwhile, Winnipeg is a solid team, particularly up front and on the wings. Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli are the only 2024 UFAs on the roster, which already leaves Cole Perfetti, the No. 10 pick in 2020, on the outside looking in. Along with fellow 2022 first-rounder Brad Lambert and 2021 second-round pick Nikita. Chibrikov is making big strides with Manitoba in the AHL this season, it’s hard to look at the Jets roster and see immediate NHL playing time. While Nazar has already played (and scored) in the NHL for Chicago and Brindley will make his immediate debut for Columbus, McGroarty doesn’t have the same runway in Winnipeg.
Consider Colby Barlow, Winnipeg’s 2023 first-round pick, who was assigned to Manitoba in April after his junior season ended. Barlow is being brought into the AHL as the Moose prepare for their playoff run. The Jets organization does not distribute minutes at any level.
McGroarty is probably capable of succeeding in the AHL here and now, although his skating needs work before hitting the NHL. He should play a huge role on Michigan’s 2024-25 team. One could easily imagine him surpassing his 16 goals and 36 assists while continuing to develop his all-around game with a healthy full season.
With that kind of success, it’s easier to imagine McGroarty signing with the Jets this time next year and having a more immediate impact on his path to the 2025-26 season. He remains Winnipeg’s No. 1 prospect and, considering how he recovered from rib and lung injuries to captain the U.S. team and win the gold medal before returning to Michigan for the latter part, he is a difficult player to bet against in the long run.
Recent Jets draft picks to sign after their third college season include defensemen Dylan Samberg and Tucker Poolman. Expect this situation to follow the same trajectory; McGroarty is focused on his development and his ultimate goal is to earn a spot on the Jets team.
(Photo: Richard T. Gagnon / Getty Images)