It isn't often we see two very recent mid-first round picks traded for each other, but here we are.

It has been no secret that Rutger McGroarty was likely not going to be a Winnipeg Jet, so it was a matter of when he was going to be dealt. That trade came to pass on Thursday afternoon as McGroarty, the 14^th overall pick in 2022, was sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins for prospect, and 14^th overall pick in 2023, Brayden Yager:

Let's break down what each team gets.

What Pittsburgh Gets

With the winding down of the Sidney Crosby–Evgeni Malkin–Kris Letang era, there was some needed youth injected into the lineup by acquiring McGroarty. While the team was clearly high on Yager, and the Dobber Prospects team had him as Pittsburgh's top prospect, The Hockey News seemed to think Yager was still a year away from the NHL. McGroarty seems more ready to make the jump to the NHL, and he'll get a chance to do that right away. It is a chance for the player to make an impact on the roster and the team to not only give their aging core some immediate help, but also start the building blocks for the post-dynasty era.

McGroarty has done nothing but improve his stock since being drafted in 2022. Hockey Prospecting has him as an ascending talent, though interestingly, they have Yager on the same upward trajectory:

The new Penguins prospect was tabbed as a player that had the skills to join the Jets at the end of their 2023-24 season, if not join the team in 2024-25, as noted in the Dobber Prospect organizational rankings of Winnipeg.

Not only can McGroarty create his own shots, he can finish them, too, and he doesn't need the puck on his stick to help the team offensively. He is a player who can find soft spots in the defence, whether through forechecking or through his hockey IQ, and that is a skill set that could fit very well alongside either Crosby or Malkin. He can do a lot of work below the dots, and that screams success with Crosby, but we'll see come training camp.

Now that he's a Penguin, McGroarty is probably the team's best offensive prospect in several years. He'll have every chance to make an impact from Game 1 of the regular season, and he's in a good position to do it. Just temper fantasy expectations because top power play time is far from a sure thing.

What Winnipeg Gets

Yager is a player who thrives with his shooting, but it's not just a great shot. He has good skating ability which helps him get his body into position to make use of that lethal shot, and though he's a bit on the smaller side, he can play with a bit of physical edge. He is a rare shot-first centre, but the Jets have been looking for a second-line centre to play behind Mark Scheifele basically since Bryan Little's heyday. It might take a year or two, but Yager has the ability.

Because of Winnipeg's reticence to use young players, there isn't much fantasy relevance. He is not likely to crack the roster in October, at least not past the nine-game mark, and that puts him on a path for 2025-26 as the Jets have five forwards with expiring UFA contracts.

It should be said that if we assume Yager and McGroarty are somewhat equal players, this trade benefits fantasy owners with Yager on their dynasty teams more than McGroarty. The latter might get a short-term boost but that Penguins core is at the end of its rope and there isn't much in the prospect cupboard. At least Winnipeg has a few top-6 forwards on the right side of 30 years old, plus Cole Perfetti if he sticks around.

Who This Helps

Rutger McGroarty

Who This Hurts

Drew O'Connor