PuckSleuth
2Not on an NHL roster · Right wing · Shoots L
Rutger McGroarty
Age 22 · 6'2" · 212 lb · Born in Lincoln, USA
Cap hit
$950K
0.9% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then RFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
—
needs 40 recent games
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2025-26 regular season
GP
24
Goals
3
8.1% shooting
Assists
3
1 primary
Points
6
0.25 per game
TOI/GP
11:58
PP 0:10 · PK 0:15
xGF%
52.8
5v5, -1.8 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.38
per game
Faceoff %
—
8 W · 9 L
Plus/minus
-3
Blocks 8 · Hits 26
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14 @ STL · L 7-5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15:21 | 1:14 | 1:33 | — | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1.15 |
| Apr 12 @ WSH · L 3-0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9:55 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +0.14 |
| Apr 11 vs WSH · L 6-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14:49 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 1-0 | 50 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -0.05 |
| Mar 28 vs DAL · L 6-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10:41 | 0:00 | 0:09 | 1-0 | 50 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.23 |
| Feb 5 @ BUF · W 5-2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10:01 | 0:00 | 1:43 | 2-0 | 100 | 0 | 1 | +1 | +0.89 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 270 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
75th percentile
65th percentile
78th percentile
94th percentile
98th percentile
95th percentile
37th percentile
85th percentile
95th percentile
28th percentile
54th percentile
11th percentile
7th percentile
70th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleDefensive-minded depth winger
Trait percentiles vs. NHL wingers · 2025-26
McGroarty plays a reserved, defense-first game where his strength lies in shutting down opponents rather than generating offense. He works hard in all areas but struggles to create plays or move the puck efficiently, limiting his impact on possession.
- Shooting volume
- 58
- Playmaking
- 14
- Zone entries(est.)
- 38
- Forechecking
- 50
- Physicality
- 54
- Defensive impact
- 95
- Puck management
- 34
- Speed
- 58
Where he shoots from
Slot 49% · Mid-range 39% · Perimeter 12%(51 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite defensive impact at the 95th percentile keeps opponents contained
- Solid shooting volume and speed in the 58th percentile provide secondary scoring chances
- Reliable forechecking and physicality around 50th percentile show consistent effort
Watch-outs
- Playmaking at the 14th percentile shows minimal playmaking ability
- Below-average puck management at 34th percentile limits possession creation
- Limited rush chances at 38th percentile indicates difficulty generating clean entries
Similar style: Pontus Holmberg (TBL), Nick Paul (TOR)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 24 GP
Season total +9.1, or +0.38 per game.
- Scoring
- +4.7
- Shooting
- +2.8
- 5-on-5 goals
- -0.3
- Defense
- +0.4
- Penalty kill
- +0.1
- Physical play
- +0.9
- Puck battles
- -0.6
- Penalties
- +1.1
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 9.1 | 14:37 | — | +0.47 |
| 2025-26 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 24 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 8.1 | 11:58 | 47.1 | +0.38 |
| Career | 2 seasons | 32 | 4 | 5 | 9 | -3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 8.3 | 12:38 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.37 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.6 mph
- 69th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 28
- Hardest shot
- 86.2 mph
- 58th pct
- Distance
- 46.5 mi
- OZ time
- 41.9%
- 48th pct
- DZ time
- 40.5%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 22, forwards typically produce 98% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
1 season left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | PIT | $950K | 0.9% |
RFA after 2026-27. $950K in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).