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Transfer negotiations for Rutger McGroarty have begun. A league source reports The athlete that McGroarty has attracted interest from several teams.

A transfer is expected to take place before the NHL Draft, which could involve roster players or future players, depending on McGroarty’s destination.

McGroarty, 20, finished seventh in NCAA scoring with 16 goals and 36 assists in 36 games for Michigan, and captained Team USA to a gold medal at the 2024 World Junior Championships. The No. 14 pick in 2022 has no interest in taking his next steps in Winnipeg — but he’s still a damn good trade partner.

Here are three teams interested in McGroarty and some thoughts on a possible Jets trade.

What could Winnipeg get back?

Columbus has good reasons to be interested in McGroarty. Not only are the Blue Jackets a young team regrouping and looking for new leadership – from the top to the bottom of the organization – but they have also built a roster of Michigan talent.

McGroarty played at Michigan in 2022-23 on a dominant line with Adam Fantilli and Gavin Brindley – at times the best line in college hockey. Fantilli began his career with the Blue Jackets in 2023-24, scoring 27 points in 47 games, while Brindley helped McGroarty and Co. to a Frozen Four appearance before signing with Columbus after his NCAA career ended. Signing McGroarty would give Columbus a chance to reunite a dominant college trio, expand its leadership group and continue to try to rewrite the history of the franchise’s recent struggles. Not to mention 21-year-old Kent Johnson or veteran Zach Werenski, two other former Wolverines.

What could the Jets be planning?

As reported by The athleteAaron Portzline, 20-year-old defenseman David Jiricek was not happy with the way he was treated in Columbus this season. Jiricek, who was selected sixth overall in 2022 – eight spots ahead of McGroarty – had a higher opinion of his 43 NHL games than former Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent. No matter which side you’re on, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Jiricek was an offensive force in the AHL, scoring 30 points in 43 games last season and 38 points in 55 games the year before. Right-handed defensemen with Jiricek’s size and skill are a rarity, making him quite an attractive candidate.

Columbus may look to mend that relationship rather than end it, as Jiricek’s qualities are well known. The Blue Jackets may also not be interested in trading away Winnipeg-born left back Denton Mateychuk, who they took two spots before Winnipeg settled on McGroarty in 2022. Mateychuk played a key role with the WHL championship-winning Moose Jaw Warriors, scoring 75 points in 52 games during the regular season before finishing second in playoff scoring with 30 points in 20 games.

Signing Mateychuk could help the Jets completely change the McGroarty narrative, as they bring home a local kid who was voted the WHL’s best defenseman this season. Columbus also has the No. 4 pick, though Winnipeg would have to sign McGroarty in addition to get that much draft capital.

There are many reasons to link Ottawa to Winnipeg. The most obvious topic of discussion was Nikolaj Ehlers and Jakob Chychrun, as both players are entering the final year of their contracts.

Chychrun, 26, just finished a 41-point season while putting together a solid top-four performance. His $4.6 million contract is a good value, and the likelihood of a sizable raise next summer and a Senators defense built around left-handers Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot have made Chychrun the frequent subject of transfer rumors. Winnipeg could certainly use Chychrun’s game, especially if veteran left-hander Brenden Dillon signs elsewhere, but a new idea has emerged: What if the Jets target Chabot instead?

Enter McGroarty.

Chabot, 27, has four years left on his eight-year, $8 million-a-year contract that takes effect July 1 and includes a 10-team no-transfer clause. He played an even bigger role than Chychrun on Ottawa’s blue line and was equally as strong in ice time for all of the Senators. Chabot controls the flow of the game at five-on-five, but offers less cannon power than Chychrun (and is therefore less effective on power plays).

Senators general manager Steve Staios has vehemently denied that Chabot was the subject of trade talks.

From the Jets’ perspective, however, Chabot’s 2028 UFA status would provide plenty of stability in addition to his quality as a player. Ottawa picks seventh on Friday, but the Senators’ young talent isn’t overflowing with recent success. The Senators might be inclined to make that pick.

McGroarty has increased his value through a strong start to his NCAA career and his participation in the World Junior Championship.

Still, Columbus’ No. 4 pick and Ottawa’s No. 7 pick might be a little out of reach. That’s where San Jose comes in. Not only do the Sharks have the No. 1 pick, with Macklin Celebrini waiting for them as a prize, but they also have a second first-round pick: 14th, right where McGroarty was taken in 2022. They also have three second-round picks – more than enough draft capital to trade.

The Sharks also have the fourth best junior pool in the NHL, per The athleteScott Wheeler (one spot behind Columbus, which is third). Left wing Quentin Musty, left-handed defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin and big left-handed center Filip Bystedt should be of interest to him. Musty, the 26th pick in 2023, is of a similar stature to McGroarty and finished last season with 102 points in 53 games for OHL Sudbury. Bystedt made a smooth transition to the AHL after his SHL season ended, recording seven points in eight games for the San Jose Barracuda.

Columbus is a promising favorite, but McGroarty is a highly regarded candidate and will have suitors outside of the three teams we’ve covered here. Buffalo has a deep and diverse pool of promising players. Everyone expects the Utah Hockey Club to make a splash. And McGroarty is developing in Detroit’s backyard – another team with a lot of potential and talent.

The Jets have other work to do, too. Ehlers’ name continues to be discussed in transfer talks. The Jets’ pending UFAs include Dillon, Sean Monahan, Laurent Brossoit, Tyler Toffoli and Colin Miller. Cole Perfetti will need a contract extension later this summer, as will fellow RFAs David Gustafsson and Logan Stanley. Winnipeg could also look to free up salary cap space to facilitate transactions — and that could come in the form of a severance package for Nate Schmidt.

The momentum around McGroarty is increasing and I expect a trade to happen before the draft.

(Photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)