Illegal Curve Hockey

Categories: Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty returning to Michigan for 2024-25 season

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

Rutger McGroarty Watch has been on for some time as Jets fans were wondering what the 2022 1st rounder would do. Would he turn pro or would he return to Michigan?

He answered that question with an Instagram post saying he is returning to Michigan for his junior season:

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman added this:

“Jets and his advisors discussed today, and team supported his decision.”

This isn’t a huge surprise as McGroarty can return to Ann Arbor with a chance to be captain of the Wolverines next season. He wasn’t likely to be an impact player for the NHL club of Winnipeg and perhaps he sees this as an opportunity to bypass the AHL which is where he likely would have spent 2024-25.

Although he did lose three of his teammates who turned pro recently including Frank Nazar (Chicago), Gavin Brindley (Columbus) and Dylan Duke (Tampa Bay).

For now Rutger Watch comes to an end.

David Minuk

Working hard on a daily basis to provide the latest Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose news for our readers and listeners. I also appear on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show every Saturday on our YouTube channel as well as the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show after every single Jets game. And I occasionally jump in the play-by-play booth at Canada Life to provide colour analysis during Manitoba Moose games.