Penguins May Have Made Serious Mistake in Brayden Yager Trade After Latest Update
The Pittsburgh Penguins moved Brayden Yager for Rutger McGroarty a year ago, but now, it appears as though the team could come to regret that move.
Last summer, the Pittsburgh Penguins made a shock trade to land disgruntled Winnipeg Jets prospect Ruger McGroarty, but in the process they had to give up a key former first-round pick in Brayden Yager.
While McGroarty showed plenty of promise, making his NHL debut alongside Ville Koivunen in 2024/25, Yager has continued to develop, and after his season with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Moose Jaw Warriors came to an end, it's clear to see that he's highly thought of in Winnipeg.
In 54 games between those two teams, he tallied 25 goals and 82 points, and at 20-years of age, it's clear that he's got an incredibly bright future ahead, and in the Jets prospect wrap up of 2024/25, there is plenty of positivity around his potential as an NHLer.
Brayden Yager (2023, 14th overall by Penguins)
Yager, who the Jets acquired last summer from the Penguins, was undeniably one of the WHL's premier players. After being traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes by the Moose Jaw Warriors in early December, the centre recorded 52 points (14 goals, 38 assists) in just 33 games.
He was serving as Warriors captain at the time of the trade and had 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points in 21 games with them before being dealt. After finishing with a cool 92 points between the clubs in 54 games, he added eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 16 playoff games, but the Hurricanes were swept in Round 3 by the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Yager also captained Canada's squad at the 2025 World Juniors and recorded three assists in five games. Unfortunately, Canada had another disappointing showing and was ousted in the quarterfinal by Czechia for the second-straight tournament.
Yager, who the Jets acquired last summer from the Penguins, was undeniably one of the WHL's premier players. After being traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes by the Moose Jaw Warriors in early December, the centre recorded 52 points (14 goals, 38 assists) in just 33 games.
He was serving as Warriors captain at the time of the trade and had 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points in 21 games with them before being dealt. After finishing with a cool 92 points between the clubs in 54 games, he added eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 16 playoff games, but the Hurricanes were swept in Round 3 by the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Yager also captained Canada's squad at the 2025 World Juniors and recorded three assists in five games. Unfortunately, Canada had another disappointing showing and was ousted in the quarterfinal by Czechia for the second-straight tournament.
That future could arrive in Winnipeg much earlier than expected, as the team are in desperate need of some depth down the middle moving forward, and now, all signs are pointing towards Yager having a genuine shot to make the team and find a significant spot in the Jets lineup moving forward.
Ultimately, the Penguins have a very talented forward in McGroarty, but at the end of the day, the ceiling is incredibly high for Yager, so this may be one that Kyle Dubas looks back on and regrets in a few years.
| POLL | ||
MAI 29 | 361 ANSWERS Penguins May Have Made Serious Mistake in Brayden Yager Trade After Latest Update Will the Penguins end up regretting the trade of Brayden Yager? | ||
| Yes | 258 | 71.5 % |
| No | 103 | 28.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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