Pickering fitting in on Pens’ blue line

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This article was published 22/11/2024 (313 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PITTSBURGH — “Where is Rutger?” “Where is Rutger?”

Certainly not here in Pittsburgh, where the NHL’s Penguins hosted the Winnipeg Jets — the team that drafted him 14th-overall in 2022 — on Friday night inside PPG Paints Arena.

Too bad. That would have been fun.

Speaking of which, 20-year-old Rutger McGroarty sure did hear those pointed chants about his whereabouts from Winnipeg fans last month at Canada Life Centre.

“It was funny,” he told Chris Peters of FloHockey during a recent interview. “It’s hockey. They’re a passionate fan base. It gave me a little chuckle, for sure.”

McGroarty will have to wait until at least next season for the first chance to face his old squad, as he was lacing up his skates on Friday 450 km away from Pittsburgh in the city of Wilkes-Barre, preparing to play his 12th game with the American Hockey League team that, at least for now, represents his hockey home.

After looking overwhelmed and overmatched in his first three big-league games to start his rookie pro season, Pittsburgh sent him to the minors for seasoning. The University of Michigan Wolverines standout hasn’t exactly torn it up across state, with three points (1G, 2A) in his first 11 games and a minus-five rating.

When McGroarty made it clear he was not going to sign with the Jets — for reasons that still are murkier than the Red River — general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff swung a trade that brought 19-year-old Brayden Yager (14th-overall in 2023) to Winnipeg.

Yager had a great first camp with the Jets and is off to a great start in the Western Hockey League this season, with 24 points (10G, 14A) in 18 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors. He’s expected to play a big role for Team Canada’s World Juniors team next month, possibly as its captain.

All of which has made McGroarty public enemy No. 1 in Winnipeg — in addition to an easy target, especially since there were rumblings part of his hestitation with Winnipeg was the idea of not immediately getting a path to full-time NHL work.

Now parked in the AHL to work on his game, McGroarty told Peters that Penguins prospect Owen Pickering, who is from St. Adolphe, has been in his ear about the Winnipeg backlash.

“He’s been my best friend here. He is the best guy ever. He’s kind of chirping me about it,” he said.

If we know hockey players, there’s a good chance those verbal volleys are every bit as vicious as the ones Jets fans dished out.

Around the glass

Speaking of Pickering, he was in the lineup against the Jets on Friday, having been called up from Wilkes-Barre a week ago.

The 20-year-old mobile, puck-moving defenceman, who was selected 21st-overall in 2022, had an assist in his NHL debut against the San Jose Sharks last Saturday and played 17:39 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in his second game on Tuesday.

This, after beginning his pro career in the AHL and scoring his first goal on Nov. 13 against Lehigh-Valley.

Have yourself a month, kid.

Pickering spoke following Friday’s morning skate in Pittsburgh, reflecting how he was seven years old when the Jets came back to Winnipeg in 2011.

“They were just like Gods,” he said of seeing the world’s best players suddenly in his backyard.

Now Pickering is rubbing shoulders and sharing ice with the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson, just months after finishing up a terrific WHL career with the Swift Current Broncos.

Oh, and getting to play against some of those hometown hockey idols, such as Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey.

“It’ll be pretty cool, but I think really quickly it will just change into (another) hockey game,” said Pickering, noting the struggling Penguins have to find a way to start piling up the points.

“I think it’s something I can see is pretty special, but I think it might be after the game I feel that a bit more. Right now I’m just trying to win.”

Pickering has also become good friends and workout partners with Cody Glass. The 25-year-old Winnipegger, who was the first draft pick of the Vegas Golden Knights (sixth-overall in 2017), is in his first year with the Penguins and has four assists through 14 games. Glass is currently sidelined with a concussion but participated in Friday’s morning skate.

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On the subject of Manitoba hockey players, Friday was a memorable one for Brett Howden. The pride of Oakbank signed a five-year contract extension with the Golden Knights worth US$12.5 million, or US$2.5 million per season.

Howden, selected 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2016, has really found his stride in Sin City and has proven to be a valuable piece of the perennial contenders’ bottom six.

Now in his fourth season, the 26-year-old forward already has eight goals through 20 games. That ties his production over 72 contests last year and is just one off his career-high of nine.

Howden is now up to 371 career NHL games, with 110 points (37G, 63A).

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Sometimes, a change of scenery is needed to spark a player. Howden would be a prime example of that. Sometimes, several changes are needed. Former Jets forward Jack Roslovic might just be Exhibit A.

Now with his fourth NHL team, the Carolina Hurricanes, the 27-year-old winger is among the league’s top producers so far with 11 goals through 19 games. To put that in perspective, Roslovic has only ever exceeded 12 once in his career, potting 22 (in 81 games) for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2021-22.

Roslovic, drafted 25th-overall by the Jets in 2015, was included in the Patrik Laine for Pierre-Luc Dubois swap but never really got going with his hometown Blue Jackets, who shipped the pending unrestricted free agent to the New York Rangers at the trade deadline last year.

He had eight points (3G, 5A) in 19 regular-season games with the Rangers, then another eight points (2G, 6A) in 16 playoff contests before signing a one-year deal worth US$2.8 million last July.

Now, it appears, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour has unlocked the secret formula for more consistent play, something that has been a big issue in Roslovic’s career.

“Obviously signing that one-year deal there was, not like a prove-me deal, but you want to hit the ground running on something like that,” said Jets forward Mason Appleton, a longtime teammate of Roslovic (and linemate with the Manitoba Moose) who was taken in the sixth round of the same draft.

“I’m happy for him. He’s a very smart player, very fast, very good with his stick. I wouldn’t describe him as a goal scorer — he can score, but that’s not the best part of his game — but obviously a heck of a start for him. Whatever it is in that system that’s working great for him, hopefully he can keep that up.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld