The newest member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Rutger McGroarty, opened up about his departure from the Winnipeg Jets organization in an interview. Last week, <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/winnipeg-jets/jets-trade-disgruntled-prospect-rutger-mcgroarty-to-pittsburgh-penguins' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'> the Winnipeg Jets finally managed to trade Rutger McGroarty in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins</a> involving the 2023 14th overall pick, Brayden Yager. This came months after McGroarty informed the team that he wanted to be traded, as he wouldn't play for the Jets. A few days later, the forward signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Penguins, opting not to return for his final <a href='https://www.ncaa.com/sports/icehockey-men/d1' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'> NCAA</a> season with the University of Michigan. In a press conference, his first as a member of the Penguins, he opened up about his former organization, revealing that he wanted to be honest about his intentions and that he has a lot of respect for the Jets, who handled the situation with a lot of class. In his own words: <q>I wanted to be upfront and honest with them, and I just told them that I wasn't going to be signing with them, McGroarty told reporters. I've got nothing but respect for those guys. They handled it with a lot of class, and I wish them nothing but the best, but I'm fired up to get started here now.</q> Even though he's under contract, McGroarty will need to perform well during rookie camp to earn a spot on the Penguins' lineup. In the same press conference, he stated that he's ready to work and will try to leave a good impression: <q>I feel like I'm going to get what I deserve and I'm going to come ready to work for camp, he said. I like where my game is at right now. I'm excited to get to camp and hopefully leave a good impression on them.</q> McGroarty also shared a few words about his experience in Pittsburgh so far and seems to be enjoying it: <q>The development path, the veteran guys they have here, the organization that they have here, he said. It's such a sports town. Even in the couple of days that I've been here, I went to a Pirates game on Monday, it's been awesome. The sports-town atmosphere is unbelievable.</q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/spinohockey/status/1829201019412078953'> </a></blockquote></div> If he ends up making the team, McGroarty could be back in Winnipeg as soon as October 20th, as the Penguins are set to face the Jets. Source: <a href='https://x.com/spinohockey/status/1829201019412078953' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Spinorama Hockey on X</a>