(Winnipeg) The Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins traded offensive prospects Thursday, with the Canadian team acquiring Brayden Yager in exchange for the rights to forward Rutger McGroarty.
Yager was the first round pick, 14e overall, Penguins in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
The 19-year-old scored 35 goals and 60 assists in 57 regular-season games, while also having 27 points (11-16) in 20 playoff games with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season.
He also had six points in four games during the Memorial Cup tournament, and was named to the competition’s all-star team.
The Jets selected McGroarty with the 14th overall pick.e The 20-year-old from Nebraska had 52 points (16-36) in 36 games with the University of Michigan in 2023-24.
Both players took part in the World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2024.
McGroarty was the captain of Team USA, and he had five goals and four assists en route to gold. Yager had two goals and three assists for Canada, which finished fifth.