The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the oldest teams in the NHL. Although their lineup’s average age is 30.9, most non-roster players playing in Wilkes/Barre Scranton are much younger, at 23.3.

So, young, talented prospects are on their way to the show, yet not all of them are ready for the bright lights, to accept passes from Sidney Crosby, or to try to slow down Connor McDavid when he picks up speed through the neutral zone.

Although that is neither here nor there, one top NHL prospect recently requested a trade and is ready to begin his professional career in a new location.

University of Michigan star forward Rutger McGroarty requested to be dealt from the Winnipeg Jets.

As the 14th overall pick in 2022, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas would be crazy not to be on the phone asking what it would take to acquire the 20-year-old.

Social media chatter indicates that the Montreal Canadiens are making their move for McGroarty to bring him to the Eastern Conference, which means Pittsburgh will see a lot of him when he finally makes it.

Of course, McGroarty will not waltz into training camp and immediately become a top-six forward, but stranger things have happened.

Right now, the Penguins have Michael Bunting (28), Bryan Rust (32), Rickard Rackell (31), Anthony Beauvillier (27), Drew O’Connor (26), Jesse Puljujarvi (26), and Emil Bemstrom (25) penciled in wingers for opening night.

Rust and Rakell make over $5 million and have four years left on their deals. Bunting makes $4.5 million and will be a UFA in two seasons.

Every other name on the winger list for at least the 2024-25 season will be on the market again next July.

McGroarty’s asking price will not be cheap. Last year in the NCAA, he scored 52 points in 36 games and became a Hobey Bakey Award nominee.

However, Dubas has some roster players he could part with, both at the NHL and AHL levels, and he can also offer up some draft picks.

The idea sounds crazy because the Penguins have so much money tied up in their current lineup that trying to swing a deal doesn’t seem logical.

But, viewing the situation from another perspective, the Penguins have drafted only one player from the top 15 spots in the NHL Entry Draft since 2012: Brayden Yager in 2023.

Yager is on the cusp of finding a full-time role in Pittsburgh after having a breakthrough season in the WHL, winning the league’s championship.