Brayden Yager was a key piece of the Rutger McGroarty trade, and now he reveals his feelings on the entire situation and life after <a href='https://www.nhl.com/penguins/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>the Pittsburgh Penguins</a>. After being a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins and dominating the WHL a year ago with the <a href='https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Moose Jaw Warriors</a>, Brayden Yager's world was turned upside down as he was a <a href='https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-trades-rutger-mcgroarty-to-pittsburgh-for-brayden-yager' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>key piece of the trade</a> that sent Rutger McGroarty to Pittsburgh, and he admits he was very shocked by the move. «It was a little bit of a surprise. You don't expect to get traded at such a young age. Obviously, I enjoyed my time in Pittsburgh where I met some pretty good players and learned a lot from. «But my first camp in Winnipeg was unreal and there are obviously lots of great players there too. It was great that those guys were really good to me and the staff were unbelievable to just make me feel welcome and that I belonged.» The Saskatchewan native chose to look on the bright side, as did his parents, who were clearly over the moon that their son would be much closer to them as he looks to achieve his NHL dreams in Winnipeg, rather than in Pittsburgh, a place that he admits is dear to him. «Mom and Dad were pretty pumped because I'm a lot closer to home than in Pittsburgh. I've been to Winnipeg a lot when I was growing up and it's a great city and obviously a great hockey town. Being in Canada makes it more special and I'll hopefully get a chance to play in the NHL there.» However, the 20-year old has nothing but good things to say about Sidney Crosby, who taught him an immense amount in such a short time with the Penguins organization, which should come as a surprise to no one. «Sid was unbelievable with me. From the moment I got drafted, he gave me a call to welcome me to the organization. When I went to that first camp, I was trying to be a sponge to learn as much as I could from a guy like him.» Now, the former No. 14 overall pick is with the <a href='https://chl.ca/whl-hurricanes/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Lethbridge Hurricanes</a>, who just went through to the second round of the WHL Playoffs, with a matchup against the <a href='https://chl.ca/whl-hitmen/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Calgary Hitmen</a> in round two looming, and while some players would let a summer trade get to them, it's clear that Yager is already mature beyond his years as he looks to make the best of the situation handed to him.