For the first time since joining the Penguins on August 22, Rutger McGroarty took the podium in the press room at the Lemieux Sports Complex.

And he sounded like someone who was desperate to make an impression on his new organization and his new city. So much so that he signed his entry-level contract the same day he moved to Pittsburgh.

“I feel like everything is right here,” McGroarty told reporters at the press conference. “I feel like the development path, the experienced guys they have here, the organization they have here, and also the talent here … I feel like it’s a real sports town.”

He continued: “And then when I talked to Kyle (Dubas) and Jason (Spezza), I felt like they were two incredible hockey minds that would open up a great development path for me. And yes, the decision was clear.”

The Winnipeg Jets traded McGroarty, their 2022 first-round pick (14th overall), to Pittsburgh in a straight prospect swap for Brayden Yager, the Penguins’ top prospect at the time. McGroarty stated that it “means a lot that (the Penguins) were willing to make a trade like that for him.”

He was willing to disclose his desire to leave Winnipeg, and while he has “nothing but respect” for the Jets, he is eager to become part of Pittsburgh’s long-standing championship culture and help the team get back on track. And he can’t wait to make that happen alongside veterans Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

“I love winning. I love being part of an atmosphere like that,” McGroarty said. “I’ve played on a lot of winning teams in my career – obviously not to this extent in the NHL with people like that – but I love being part of this atmosphere. I love being here. I love the day-to-day work. I love winning. That really gets me excited and hopefully I can be a part of it.”

Although he mentioned that he wasn’t promised much in terms of playing time in the NHL – which was reportedly one of the reasons he didn’t sign in Winnipeg – he is keen to get the opportunity to prove himself in training camp and at the 2024 Prospects Challenge next month.

And disbanding the team after the training camp? That will certainly not be easy.

With the addition of McGroarty, the Penguins now have a number of forwards battling for the final spots on the roster. Dubas traded Cody Glass to the roster in early August, and other newcomers such as Kevin Hayes, Blake Lizotte and Anthony Beauvillier – as well as returning players Lars Eller, Noel Acciari and Valtteri Puustinen – should all have a good chance of making the final six.

McGroarty’s great potential, hockey knowledge, positional versatility and self-proclaimed “power play” would be wasted hiding in the press box, so he will likely have to compete against some experienced forwards – as well as some younger players who will also be looking to make an impression in training camp this season – unless there are other roster changes before the season opener on October 9 against the New York Rangers.

It may not be easy and there seem to be no guarantees. But McGroarty is ready for the challenge.

“I feel like I’m getting what I deserve and I’m going to be ready to work for camp,” he said. “And I’m happy with my game right now. I’m just excited to get to camp and hopefully make a good impression on them.”

And he is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to possibly play with his childhood idol.

“Playing with Sidney Crosby… obviously he’s the best player in the world and I grew up watching him play. And so that’s definitely on my mind. It would be very cool if I could do that one day.”

Only time will tell, but McGroarty seems to be well on his way to a long career in the Penguins jersey.

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