Rutger McGroarty trade destinations: What could the Winnipeg Jets get back?

Rutger McGroarty trade talks have begun. A league source tells The Athletic that McGroarty has garnered interest from several teams.

A trade is expected to take place prior to the NHL Draft and could involve roster players or future assets, depending on McGroarty’s destination.

McGroarty, 20, finished seventh in NCAA scoring with 16 goals and 36 assists in 36 games for Michigan. He also captained Team USA to a gold medal at the 2024 world juniors. The No. 14 pick in 2022 doesn’t have interest in taking his next steps with Winnipeg — still, he’s a heck of a trade asset.

Here are three teams with interest in McGroarty and some thoughts on a potential Jets trade return.

What could Winnipeg get back?

Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus has tremendous reason to have interest in McGroarty. In addition to being a young, rebuilding team in search of new leadership — from top to bottom of the organization — the Blue Jackets have built a stable of Michigan talent.

McGroarty played on a dominant line with Adam Fantilli and Gavin Brindley at Michigan in 2022-23 — at times, the best line in college hockey. Fantilli started his Blue Jackets career in 2023-24, scoring 27 points in 47 games, while Brindley helped McGroarty and company to a Frozen Four appearance before signing with Columbus when his NCAA ended. Acquiring McGroarty would give Columbus a chance to reunite a dominant college trio, add to its leadership group and continue trying to rewrite history from recent franchise struggles. Don’t forget 21-year-old Kent Johnson or veteran Zach Werenski, two more former Wolverines.

What could the Jets be after?

As reported by The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline, 20-year-old defenceman David Jiricek was not happy with the way he was handled in Columbus this season. Jiricek, taken sixth in 2022 — eight spots before McGroarty — had a higher opinion of his 43 NHL games than former Blue Jackets coach, Pascal Vincent. Whichever side you’re on there, the 6-foot-4, 207-pound Jiricek was an offensive force in the AHL, posting 30 points in 43 games last season and 38 points in 55 games the year before that. Right-handed defencemen with Jiricek’s size and skill are a rarity, making him a thoroughly appealing prospect.

Columbus may seek to patch that relationship instead of ending it, noting Jiricek’s quality. The Blue Jackets might not be keen to move Winnipeg-born left-handed defenceman, Denton Mateychuk, who they took two spots before Winnipeg chose McGroarty in 2022, either. Mateychuk played a key role on the WHL championship-winning Moose Jaw Warriors, scoring 75 points in 52 games during the regular season before finishing second in playoff scoring with 30 points in 20 games.

Acquiring Mateychuk could help the Jets change the McGroarty storyline in a big way, bringing home a local kid who was named the WHL’s top defenceman this season. Columbus also owns the No. 4 pick, although Winnipeg would need to add to McGroarty to acquire that kind of draft capital.

Ottawa Senators

There are a lot of reasons to connect Ottawa to Winnipeg. The most obvious topic of discussion has involved Nikolaj Ehlers and Jakob Chychrun, given each player is entering the final year of his contract.

Chychrun, 26, just posted a 41-point season while delivering solid top-four performance. His $4.6 million represents a value contract, while the likelihood of a sizable raise next summer and a Senators blue line built around fellow left-handers Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot, have made Chychrun a common subject of trade rumours. Winnipeg could certainly use Chychrun’s play, particularly if left-handed veteran Brenden Dillon signs elsewhere, but a new thought has emerged: What if the Jets target Chabot instead?

Enter McGroarty.

The 27-year-old Chabot has four years left on his eight-year, $8 million AAV contract with a 10-team no-trade clause that kicks in on July 1. He played an even bigger role on Ottawa’s blue line than Chychrun did, leading all Senators in even strength ice time. Chabot controls the flow of play at five-on-five while offering less of a cannon than Chychrun does (and less power play efficacy as a result).

Senators GM Steve Staios has firmly denied that Chabot has been the subject of trade conversation.

From the Jets’ point of view, though, Chabot’s 2028 UFA status would offer a ton of stability in addition to his quality as a player. Ottawa picks seventh on Friday but the Senators’ prospect cupboard isn’t overflowing with recent success. The Senators may be inclined to make that pick.

San Jose Sharks

McGroarty has helped his value with a strong start to his NCAA career and play at the world juniors.

Still, Columbus’ No. 4 pick and Ottawa’s No. 7 pick might be a little bit out of reach. This is where San Jose enters the picture. Not only do the Sharks have the No. 1 pick, with Macklin Celebrini waiting for them as a prize, but they have a second first-round pick: 14th, right where McGroarty was taken in 2022. They have three second-round picks as well — more than enough draft capital from which to deal.

The Sharks also have assets in the form of the NHL’s fourth-best prospect pool, per The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, (one spot behind Columbus, who ranks third). Any of left winger Quentin Musty, left-handed defenceman Shakir Mukhamadullin and big left-handed centre Filip Bystedt should have appeal. Musty, the 26th pick in 2023, is similar in stature to McGroarty and finished last season with 102 points in 53 games for OHL Sudbury. Bystedt made a smooth transition into the AHL when his SHL season ended, picking up seven points in eight games for the San Jose Barracuda.

Columbus makes a lot of sense as a front-runner but McGroarty is a highly regarded prospect and will have suitors beyond the three teams we’ve covered here. Buffalo has a deep and diverse prospect pool. Everyone expects Utah Hockey Club to make a splash of some kind. And McGroarty is developing in Detroit’s backyard — another team with depth and breadth of prospect talent.

The Jets also have other work on their plate. Ehlers’ name continues to circulate in trade discussions. Pending Jets UFAs include Dillon, Sean Monahan, Laurent Brossoit, Tyler Toffoli and Colin Miller. Cole Perfetti will need an extension later this summer, as will fellow RFA skaters David Gustafsson and Logan Stanley. Winnipeg may also look to clear cap space to facilitate transactions — and that could come in the form of a buyout for Nate Schmidt.

Momentum is building on McGroarty and I expect that a trade will take place before the draft.

(Photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)