The Washington Capitals have made a handful of changes this summer, overhauling roughly a third of the roster as they bolster their offense and look to remain in the mix after just sneaking into the playoffs last season. Over the last few weeks, though, an interesting name has emerged on the market in Rutger McGroarty, leading some to wonder if D.C. has another move in it to acquire a talented rising star.

Per multiple reports, McGroarty, who was taken 14th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL Draft, wants to start his NHL career elsewhere. However, trading him has become more complex as the offseason rolls on.

McGroarty, known for his scoring prowess, size and vision, battles hard and can be a constant threat in the offensive zone. The 6-foot-1, 204-pound forward had 52 points in 36 games for Michigan this past season, building on a 39-point rookie year in 2022-23.

There’s no denying that McGroarty packs promise and can bring a lot to any team, but he may not be the best fit for D.C. And here’s why.

Per the Winnipeg News’ Mike McIntyre, McGroarty is looking for assurances and guarantees that he’ll be in the NHL and get his share of ice time. As a result, it’s been difficult for teams to trade for him, as there’s a “sense of entitlement.”

“There are other teams that might be interested in Rutger McGroarty that are hearing a lot of the same things from the McGroarty camp that the Jets have heard in terms of playing time and assurances,” McIntyre said on Winnipeg Sports Talk, adding, “There may have been one particular deal that was close to happening that essentially fell apart because the other team didn’t like what they were hearing either from the McGroarty camp. That may be complicating this for the Jets.”

Looking at Washington’s lineup and the business they’ve taken care of so far, the team is stacked going into the season, especially up front. While McGroarty would bring depth on the right wing, especially with T.J. Oshie’s future up in the air, he and his camp are making some difficult demands that the Capitals don’t truly have the flexibility to make true on right now.

Not only that, but Washington has an impressive pool of forward prospects waiting for their opportunity in the NHL, and it’ll be difficult to appease everyone if McGroarty is expecting NHL minutes right away, especially with D.C. wanting to see how things stack up in training camp.

In addition, McGroarty may require a big return, and unloading a good amount for a player who may not be NHL-ready but wants minutes right away might not be worth it.

Given the demands and inflexibility, this just isn’t the deal that the Capitals need to make right now with only so many spots up for grabs and several new additions eager to prove their worth.

So overall, a deal for him wouldn’t be the easiest to make happen. Still, it may just be worth it for general manager Chris Patrick to look at if the price is right and if his hopes are not too far off from reality.