Star Penguins prospect opens up about requesting trade out of Winnipeg

"My agents talked to them, and then I talked to them," he told reporters. "I wanted to be upfront and honest with them, and just tell them that I wasn't going to be signing with them," McGroarty said. "I got nothing but respect for those guys, they handled it with a lot of class, and I wish them nothing but the best."

"I feel like everything's right here - the development path, the veteran guys that they have, the organization that they have and the town as well," McGroarty said. "I went to a Pirates game on Monday, like, the sports town atmosphere is unbelievable. Then just talking to Kyle and (assistant GM Jason Spezza), I feel like they're just two incredible hockey minds with a great development path for me."