By Tony Abbott -
Let's say the Minnesota Wild are on the clock at No. 13 overall at Friday night's draft. They should have several options available to them. If they're lucky, perhaps someone like Berkly Catton, Konsta Helenius, or Carter Yakemchuk falls to them. Even if not, Minnesota would likely be able to add some intriguing, physical Norwegians in Michael Brandsegg-Nygard or Stian Solberg, among others.
But they wouldn't usually be able to select Rutger McGroarty out of Michigan. That's because the Winnipeg Jets already took McGroarty, the 6-foot-1 winger with a pro-ready frame, in the 2022 Draft. He went 14th overall, five picks before the Wild went to the podium to take Liam Öhgren at No. 19.
If the Wild had coveted McGroarty, now is their chance to show it. McGroarty reportedly wants out of Winnipeg. A rift has opened between the team and the player concerning the Jets' handling of his decision of whether or not to join the NHL last season. Murat Ates of The Athletic reported on Saturday that "Winnipeg may be able to use McGroarty to acquire a first-round pick — and a high one at that," later warning, "I'm under the impression that a trade is coming -- and soon, likely before the draft."
The Wild could follow through on the long-standing rumors surrounding Marco Rossi in a McGroarty trade because Winnipeg would also be interested in acquiring an NHL-ready player. But perhaps the smarter route would simply flip Minnesota's first-round pick for the Wolverine. Put it this way: If McGroarty re-entered the draft, the Wild would have to take a long look at him if he fell to them at 13.
McGroarty had a breakout season of sorts at Michigan, where he scored a career-high 50 points in 35 games. He played that well despite suffering a fractured rib that punctured his lung in November. After returning to action in December's World Junior Championships, McGroarty captained Team USA to Gold, scoring five goals and nine points in seven games. That includes notching the opening assist and closing goal in their 6-2 win over Sweden in the Gold Medal game.
His production skyrocketed upon re-joining the Wolverines. McGroarty went on a second-half run, scoring a staggering 10 goals and 34 points in 23 games. Most of these games were in the Big 10, and 13 were against teams that made the NCAA Tournament. He highlighted his run with an absurd three-goal, eight-point home-and-home set against rival Michigan State, where he racked up 19 shots.
McGroarty has 34 goals and 91 points in 75 games during his two seasons at Michigan. Granted, those teams have been absolutely stacked, with first-rounders Frank Nazar III and Gavin Brindley playing with him last year and then Adam Fantilli, Luke Hughes, and Mackie Samoskevich during his freshman season. However, McGroarty has been a critical cog in that, assuming a top role after the departure of the likes of Fantilli and Hughes.
Beyond the numbers, McGroarty fits the mold of Bill Guerin's identity for the Wild. NCAA players can't move him from the front of the net, and he combines the greasiness of Joel Eriksson Ek or Marco Rossi's game with a heightened level of playmaking. "He’s got raw skill that shows up in his great hands and feel on the puck as a passer," wrote The Athletic's Scott Wheeler in February. However, he doesn't sell McGroarty's shot short. "When he gets [to the net], he’s got the strength to shoot from bad postures/off-balance. He always seems to put his shots into good locations."
Guerin is a former power forward who is infatuated with players who employ his style of hockey. McGroarty feels like a natural successor to players like Marcus Foligno or Ryan Hartman in Minnesota. His skill set should be well-suited for the Wild's power play. For a team that needs scoring depth, McGroarty puts in the hard work that either leads to himself or a teammate knocking pucks into the net.
That need for depth makes the 13th overall pick a preferable trade chip over someone like Rossi to acquire McGroarty. Rossi's a 20-goal-scoring bird in the hand. While the 13th overall pick could theoretically be anything, that player is a long way from breaking into the NHL. Minnesota would be trading a sure thing to roll the dice on two relative unknowns in McGroarty and their first-rounder.
On the other hand, having Rossi and McGroarty in-house? That's something more solid to build on. Yes, McGroarty is still unproven as an NHLer, but having two strong years of development reduces some of the risk factor. It should be attractive that he can probably step into the NHL next season instead of waiting for an 18-year-old. So would that three-year Entry-Level Contract for the last year of the worst of their buyout-related pain.
Even projecting line combinations, McGroarty and Rossi could be a strong duo. Both are cerebral players who can score greasy goals and dish the puck. McGroarty's strength around the net could free him up to play in more areas on the ice rather than being the gritty, net-front option with Mats Zuccarello and Marcus Johansson. This duo's success would allow Minnesota to keep their dominant top line together without a drop-off in secondary scoring.
The biggest hurdle to such a move might not be that it'd be an in-division trade or that even teams like the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, or Philadelphia Flyers perhaps waiting in the wings with higher picks to trade to Winnipeg. Guerin might have just made a self-inflicted logjam that makes it difficult to add an NHL-ready prospect in McGroarty without blocking someone else.
With Zuccarello on the books for two more years, Hartman for three, and Foligno and Freddy Gaudreau for four, where's the room for young players to make it? Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Eriksson Ek, and Rossi give Minnesota eight forwards they should either want to have or are stuck with for the long term. There are just four spots left. With Öhgren, Marat Khusnutdinov, Riley Heidt, Danila Yurov, and more knocking on the door, how can Guerin hope to let them all in if McGroarty adds another long-term piece?
Too many good prospects is a good problem to have, we suppose. However, that's not necessarily Minnesota's problem. It's that older players on unmovable contracts are holding down too many spots. There's a non-zero chance a trade to Minnesota could lead to a similar situation to the one McGroarty is trying to escape in Winnipeg.
However, those are more issues with team construction. Should it stop the Wild from being interested in McGroarty? Probably not. He's an excellent prospect with skills the organization covets. He also fits the win-now timetable critical to keeping Kaprizov around, and it's always fun to try turning up the heat with their rivals to the north. If it's possible to use the No. 13 pick to "draft" McGroarty, Minnesota must consider it.
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