Once upon a time, the Penguins drafted a promising young Swedish forward named Markus Naslund. The youngster had all the tools…wheels, playmaking ability and a sizzling shot.
Following a difficult start to his NHL career, Naslund tore out of the starting blocks in 1995-96 at a scorching pace while skating alongside Mario Lemieux. When he cooled, then-Pens coach Eddie Johnston yanked the budding sniper off the top line and consigned him to the bottom six. The kid lost confidence.
Within weeks the Pens peddled him to Vancouver for power forward Alek Stojanov. Later serving as the Canucks’ captain, Naslund went on to score 395 goals over an exemplary 15-season NHL career…Stojanov two.
Sorry for the long-winded intro. But this cautionary tale reminds me of another young forward from across the pond who’s trying to establish himself with our present Pens.
After spending a good chunk of the preseason on Sidney Crosby’s flank, Daniel Sprong was recently demoted to the fourth line. For the erstwhile sniper, it’s kind of like landing on the Go to Jail square on a Monopoly game board.
Like Naslund before him, he ain’t your prototypical fourth liner. After notching 32 goals (in 31 games) for Charlottetown during his final season of junior, the Amsterdam native lit the lamp 32 more times for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2017-18, his first full season of pro hockey.
During a much-ballyhooed eight-game cameo with the Pens, Sprong notched a pair of goals and an assist, with all of the points coming during a 4-0 romp over the Islanders on January 5. There were other things to like as well, including a stunning Corsi for at even strength of 63.2. That’s a whole lot of possessing the puck.
The Hockey News, a respected and revered publication, writes of Sprong’s abilities in glowing terms: A tremendous skater, he is a very creative playmaker with excellent hockey sense. Is also a quality finisher with a lethal shot and a nose for the net. Owns plenty of confidence in his playing ability.
So why is No. 41 toiling on the fourth line alongside Riley Sheahan and Matt Cullen? Good question. I’ll let Mike Sullivan answer.
“I’d like to think we’ve created an environment here where all our players have to earn their ice time and earn their opportunities,” said the Pens’ coach. “You look at the last few years, no one’s been handed anything here. Everybody’s earned every opportunity they’ve been given through their performance and through their body of work.”
In other words, the kid’s got to earn his keep.
Sullivan went on to say that Sprong’s had an “up and down” training camp. Kind of an apt description of the relationship that exists between the two. Mostly down.
The rumblings began shortly after Sprong was returned to the Baby Pens in January. Sully was reported to have issues with the kid’s work ethic and play away from the puck. Perhaps his attitude, too.
“There is something about Sprong that seems to annoy coaches,” wrote Josh Yohe for The Athletic. “I saw it with Mike Johnston. I see it with Sullivan, too. He’s young and he’ll learn. He’s a great talent. But perhaps the attitude still isn’t perfect.”
Where there’s smoke, there’s generally fire. Almost on cue, Sprong fell into a mysterious funk, tallying only three goals over a 20-game stretch before heating up with 11 goals over his final 15 contests.
Encouraged by Sprong’s finishing flourish, the Pens called him up for the 2018 playoffs. However, while fellow youngsters Zach Aston-Reese and Dominik Simon saw considerable ice time, the 21-year-old phenom sat in mothballs. A personnel decision GM Jim Rutherford clearly planned to remedy.
“He’s (Sprong’s) a very talented player that will score a lot of goals in this league and he will be a regular on our team next year,” JR announced at a press conference shortly after the Pens were eliminated.
Strong words. Ones that, on the surface, threatened to put the plucky GM squarely at odds with his coach, who appears to have far less faith in the kid. Nor does it help that Sprong’s slotted behind fixtures like Patric Hornqvist and Phil Kessel on the right side.
Perhaps Sullivan feels that skating next to an old pro like Cullen will aid in Sprong’s development, especially when it comes to defensive-zone play. Too, not having to face other team’s top defensive pairings might take some pressure off the kid and lead to better scoring opportunities.
Ultimately, the coaching staff will need to give Sprong a prolonged look in a top-six role. They’ll also need to be patient, a quality that might be in short supply given the team’s Cup aspirations.
If he doesn’t pan out? Then perhaps a trade is the best option.
But JR beware. Remember Naslund.
Quote from Sid on Run-Gun-Hockey and Play high- risk game. Letang can learn a thing or two from this.
“You’re probably 50-50. You’re not really tilting it in your favor with the percentages that way,” Sidney Crosby said. “We don’t necessarily need to do that to give ourselves a good chance to win. I think we can play a pretty solid, tight defensive game and still generate more than enough offensively. I think the mindset is if you do defend well, you’re going to give yourself more opportunity to play offense.”
Hey The Other Rick,
“I thought he had a real solid night,” Sullivan said. “Obviously, he scores a couple of goals, but it was more than that. He defended really well. He plays big minutes for us. He played in all the key situations. I thought he had a real strong night. I’m happy for him because I know how hard he works. It will be a good boost of confidence for him moving forward.”
Lmao.🤣🤣🤣😬 Short Memory. ‘He defends very well’ Lord🙄😬🤦🏽♂️
Pens D isnt cohesive and forwards not helping. Bad pinching and to much open ice.
Johnson played solid and fine. I can see him pushing Ketang out with Riikola.
He should play on his natural size. I don’t like Määttä-Johnson together. It had Määttä out of sorts and hard for him to have great game. Määttä can’t play his strengths with Johnson.
Rig play out of sorts and very shaky last night . He has improved somewhat But I still think he needs to be on the bottom pairing. ( some nights)
My two cents?
Määttä -Shultzy should played together. Although, I’m crazy fan of Dumoulin-Shultz together. I’m not happy about these D pairing and I will try not to read much in it .
Penguins had 16 giveaways. I hate the pinching and communication for all players to commit on the ice to help each other. Pinching and leaving Neutral zone is Pens biggest weakness go back to last year. I know Sullivan like it. His team is getting beating with odd man rushes and heavy forecheck. I get it . One game. It reminiscent last Pens Regular and Postseason. It needs to be fixed quickly. Pens can’t win 6 goal games like that. Murray needs to be better. I still think Pens should have pick up Calvin Pickard. I know Sully love Murray ( his boy) I would have pulled him to teach him a lesson . Sully would have been pulled Fluery in a heartbeat. I wanna see some consistency and durability from him. ( Murray) jury still out on Murray.
Teams forecheck and wait for any opportunity to burn them.. They take advantage of that.
Penguins Johnson-Rig should played together too. Johnson can still get more minutes and he can mentor Big Rig on the bottom pairing.
Murray needs to learn shooters tendencies and he needs a defensive unit in front to protect him. Often he’s look uncomfortable in the net and don’t know that he stop the pucks . Hard times stopping the puck and making big timely saves. I know it can be hard with countless odd man rushes. Fleury told reporters about that.
I’m not tryna read in too much, I just see glaring things that can be issues with Penguins having a good schedule before their back to backs set in November…
Hey Dee,
That is funny. Letang played well defensively? Granted as much as I like Murray, I have to say he was weak last night. However, Letang had 3 points but only managed to be even in the +/-. Sullivan, were you watching the same game I was?
On the Orpik goal, Letang did make a good play on Ovie but then followed it up by banking the puck hard off of the boards to the Center Point. Murray probably should have stopped that shot, but Letang put the puck right in Orpik’s wheel house for a solid one time slap shot. Very rarely does even the offensively gifted Letang set his own players up that well for one-time shots.
On Ovies goal, Letang was way up in the middle of the face-off circle, just inside the dot, playing the shooter, rather than covering Ovie slipping in behind him. At ice level, during the fluid nature of the game, it may be harder to see than from my vantage point, so I may be able to see the play develop better, but then again I am not getting payed $7+ million per year to play defense like Letang. Other players may have been out of position too, but once again Letang made a bad choice and it cost the team an easy redirect.
On Oshie’s tying goal, poor communication between Letang and Dumoulin. Both players went behind the net. Dumoulin got to the puck first and threw it up the boards weakly and it was turned into the shot that Oshie redirected for a goal. I don’t know what breakout was called for but it obviously didn’t work. Maybe if Letang had done something other than play 6yr old chase-the-puck hockey and presented Dumoulin with a viable option for a break-out the puck doesn’t go up the boards and no shot. If Letang goes to the front of the net maybe Letang could have tied up Oshie or at least kept him too preoccupied to wave his wand.
In the end, Letang was Letang. He was good offensively scorig a couple of goals and picking up an assist but he also did his part to assist the Caps scoring 3 goals. Take those 6 goals off of the boards, the Penguins still win 4 – 3.
Please deal him to some team that needs an offensive defenseman. If possible get draft picks. regardless, get out from under a whitewash $7+ mil.
Hey The Other Rick,
Spot on.
Letang giveth, taketh, and giveth again. His high risk plays/ bad defensively work hurt the team. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin handled him goals on a silver plate..
Some nights Penguins gotta be defensively sound to win 1-2 goal / one leading goal games.
Run and Gun hockey and bad pinching with no support isn’t gonna work.
Like you Said.. He need to be traded for drafts picks. I would go even farther to get a solid LW then go after Meyers from Winnipeg Jets.( Maybe)
Time to move on.
I’m more intrigued to see Johnson fitting more within the system and Riikola get a spot one day on this team. ( he can be the 7th defenseman)Johnson played solid 22 minutes.
Riikola and Johnson make him expendable to fight for a spot, imo.
Pens can’t win games like that. I rather see Cullen or Hornqvist with an ‘A’ on their sweater. Better Leadership.
Penguins needs to tighten up, quickly, Murray needs to be better and 5 players on the ice gotta commit to limited odd man rushes. ( starting with Kris Letang)
Different Defense Pairings without Letang:
Dumoulin-Shultz
Määttä-Johnson
Riikola-Rig
Dumoulin-Shultz
Määttä-NEw RHD
Johnson-Rig
Dumoulin-New RHD
Määttä-Shultz
Johnson-Rig
Spread out minutes.
I agree, pull the A off of Letang and put it on Cullen or Hornqvist. Even Rust or Guentzel are better candidates for the A. Guentzel may be a bit straky but all 4 of those players give over 100% all the time and work to learn from mistakes.
Also, D pairings, like you say need adjustments. But it is early, it may still take a couple more games to see who pairs best with who.
I like Riikola, and Johnson did look better in his regular season debut than preseason but I would also have loved to see the Pens get a couple of RD to play behind Schultz. (Ruhwedel is okay and I trust him more than Letang Defensively but I do think the team could have traded up).
In the end, the Pens D Corps, as good as Letang is offensively (and believe me, if the team had no offensive D I would be tickled pink to have him), trading Letang for nothing more than draft picks is addition by subtraction for this team. They have enough Letang look-a-likes. They don’t necessarily need a player, this year, in return. But a complimentary D to allow the Offensive D to flourish without having to worry about baby sitting Letang couldn’t hurt.
Hey Phil Krundle,
I agree with you. Riikola and Johnson will make him expendable, imo.D Pairings look funny to me . No cohesiveness.
I said it, Rutherford will surprise everyone, he will trade Kris Letang , Kris Letang will give a decent return and some teams still do need a quality ok offensive one dimensional defenseman. He can include Daniel SProng in the trade.
Letang got lucky last night.. People have short memory on him. His fundamental defensive techniques is really bad. It is what it is. 25 minutes is no no. Sullivan should have been him. ( first period)
Myers and Justin Faulk. I would get one of them. Definitely Myers.
On Sprong:
OK got to say I am starting to feel sorry for this young man. I watched the game last night and this poor kid looks over at the bench every couple of seconds. It reminds me of peewee hockey when my son would look over at me with the “am I doing this right” look. They have ruined this kid, trashed his confidence, and generally destroyed his instincts. Does anyone remember when he was drafted? He had swagger and when he was on the ice he played with such confidence and speed. Now he justs skates scared. He is afraid to do anything cause Sully might pull him. Look what happened last night, Rusty was double shifting while sprong watched. Why was he hurt? Was he playing any worse than half the team? Did he say something wrong? I say let the kid go, he needs a fresh start with a new team, one that will appreciate his skill and try to help him develop! He’s not one of Sully’s guys so he sure isn’t going to get that here.
Sprong is on the fourth line. He’s isnt gonna play over 8-10 mins a game. ..
He played 6 minutes and only 1 shift in the 3rd.
Hey Kerrdog,
Read this..
https://triblive.com/sports/penguins/14149134-74/penguins-coach-mike-sullivan-hopes-to-get-daniel-sprong-more-ice-time
Hey Dee,
Thank you I had already seen the article. Its basically coach speak. This is less about playing time as it is about crushing a players spirt. Sully likes and rewards players who fall in line, but here is the rub: not every player will do that (aka phil). If your not a Sully guy then he makes it hard on you. Phil can take it, the guy is just who he is and doesnt care. Sprong has gone from a confident talented player to just a scared kid constantly looking over his shoulder. Lets be clear if Sully doesnt want him on the team I dont believe jr should force it. I just think all parties would be better off if sprong was traded.
Can’t **
Good Everyone ,
Quote from Sullivan on Letang minutes..
Sullivan says Letang is going to play all the important minutes, PK, PP, 5v5, etc. Says media is “way overthinking” concerns about managing Letang’s minutes. #dkps #penguins
Rutherford says different.. I thought at one point Sullivan did too…a lot of fans too.. it is what it is ..I feel for other D players..Really Shultz.. I hope his confidence isn’t shattered like last season..Minutes should be spread out..Justin Shultz should be Pens top Pp Qb with the Stars.. it moves better and handle great with structure with my eye test despite some stats of his samples.( that people argue over and over)
Sullivan and Rutherford will have some conflicts again this season..I can see it..Letang Saga is like beating a dead horse over and over.. I’m not drinking Letang ‘s water and still advocating for him to traded. I wish Sully had some Michael Theriren in him where he sits Letang and cut his minutes consistently..
Fans think Shultzy was bad last season because he didn’t get 50- something points.. He will be great on both sides of rink again …Big points won’t be there if Letang is catered too..
I don’t like players injured but I’m hope Letang get really hurt on IR for a longtime like 2016-2017 so Shultzy can be the top defenseman I know he can be ..
I can see other players production and abilities being full translated on the ice if Letang is leading the D Corp.. it’s suppose suspect.. I’m firm believer that Pens can win another cup without Kris Letang in the lineup if they use Riikola and get top 4 defender on the blue line..
Its a great day for hockey!!
I expected Malkin, Crosby , Kessel, Jake,Määttä , Hornqvist, Shultzy, Dumoulin Hags And Cully to get the job.They will bring it.
Hey Dee,
My question back to Sullie is what will he do should Ovie or Kusnetsov skate right past Letang again, within the 1st minute of play and score a goal (which is a real possibility)? Will he give Letang some well deserved bench or press box time?
I hope that doesn’t happen, but I really, really fear it.
Letang may score a goal or set one up but he will balance it with at least one poor defensive decision, play, or pass.
Also, how about Wilson finally getting his well deserved suspension!
Hi The other Rick,
I think Sully will continue to not hold Letang accountable and it will be conflicts all season with them. Sully contradicts himself in interviews , quoted media articles and games,imo .
Letang can score a goal, fumble on top pp, 4 brutal turnovers, 2 penalties and temper tantrums. He still will play and get praise about it.
I don’t think Sully has the balls to tell Letang what to do on the bench during games.To bench or Scratch him. I have never seen it. Only with other D players. He give Letang to much leeway and say so . Sully doesn’t know what to do with him. I think it will hurt his tenure.. with fans.. they see it and will unhappy about it.
PGh media think they should keep him (not trade him)and trade other young defenseman away. Everything should be hindle on Letang playing good on this team. Others players should allow more power and Leeway to help the team win games. Because I think Letang got it anymore. It will show. Start and Finish every game.
Sometimes I wish Crosby would go to Rutherford and tell him to trade him. Let him know he isn’t over Letang’s bad games over the years. Lol. Jk.
I see players continue to blow past him and him being more defensively bad. Players will to pressure him and he will put himself in vulnerable spots to get knocked out ..Etc..
Maybe it just me . I hope Dumoulin ( although I hope he’s full healthy to go) can play because he can gap control better with babysitting Letang.
Prediction: Letang will get at least 2 goals score on him. Brutal Turnovers and Bad behind his net. He will do to much. Same ole Overrated Letang. We can agree on that.
Real Possibility:
Rutherford will have a sit down with the Coaching Staff. Let down the law. It will happen . Rutherford and Coaching staff won’t be on the same page again.
Rutherford will take his blinders off and do diligence to trade to him to another team this season. I know it teams out in the league that will take Letang’s contract and baggage.
I hate Määttä and Johnson Together. It will be short- lived.
Players Safety did their job on his punishment. I love that Sidney Crosby gave his candid opinion on it.
He deserves 40-45 game suspension , imo.
It’s Idiocy. His teammates defending him , making him out to be victim, consistent thinking Players Safety has vendetta against him.
I hope he appeals, he gets more game with some ultimate that get Wilson think twice. I can see him go it again , if so he should get tossed out the league.
Thought? On D pairings.
Enjoy the game. I can’t wait for the post game articles..
Hey tOR,
I think they would try to move Letang before benching him. Ottawa got a lot for Karlsson. If Karlsson does well, teams may be looking for a Letang and willing to part with something. If Johnson does well Letang may be moveable.
20 is good for Wilson. If he gets another one it should be a season. One after that then a lifetime ban. Then If he does it to a pedestrian after that he should get the electric chair. 🙂
Lets Go Pens!
Hey Phil,
I think most of us fans have been clamoring for a Letang trade and would welcome it. I agree that the Pens could get still get a ton for him. He really is a good offensive force. A team that has little to no offense from the blue line could really benefit from Letang. However, a team with nothing but puck moving defensemen has little need of a player that gets 3 points in a game and still only comes up even on his +/-.
Granted, he had lots of help when it came to being on the ice when the Caps scored, but he certainly wasn’t busting his can to play defense.
As for Wilson;
My gut reaction is that Wilson should be banned for life after is next infraction, but you are right, to be fair a season long suspension should precede a career banning.
It is a shame that the league didn’t do the right thing a suspend Wilson after his blatant head hunting of Dumoulin last Spring, then Aston-Reese wouldn’t have to have metal in his head for the rest of his life from the craven cheap shot attack by the gunsel Wilson.
Maybe the league will get a clue that the punitive phase of a lawsuit could get ugly if they don’t start showing some level of concern for their employees (the players).
I hope Wilson does his Christmas shopping on line. I would hate to see him give a head shot to a little old lady who may be trying to get to the present he wants to buy. Something like that should definitely be considered a capital punishment offense, with his track record.
It make me dislike Letang more and more
Quote
• Letang scored on a long-range wrister and, hey, by the way, logged a game-high 23:42 of ice time. And this one meant less than nothing, so take with a whole bucket of salt any of the Penguins’ summertime proclamations to the contrary. He’ll be out there as often as Jacques Martin believes he’s getting the best version of Letang, and it isn’t more complex than that.
In other words — Letang seems ready to show — instead of tell — everyone he is back and ready to erase the memories of blown defensive assignments that helped aide the Washington Capitals on their way to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship.
Letang has been open about his desire to be on the ice in all situations
• It was a Letang kind of night for the Penguins’ No. 1 defenseman. He scored a goal and nearly scored on a couple of other occasions. He was also guilty of a bad turnover that led to Alex Nylander’s second-period goal.
Hey Rick,
The Naslund/Sprong comparison is a great one. Naslund didn’t stand a chance of cracking the top six. The only area the Penguins missed out on was getting a return for Naslund. Having him crack any top six position wasn’t a possiblilty. It was because they gave him too big of a chance to be a role player that he did not fit in that by the time they tried to move him his value was gone. The exact same holds true for Sprong. There is no room for him in a top six position. There is absolutely no role for him on the #1 powerplay. There are 3 things that could happen. One – the Pens move him now while they can still a good value, two – the Pens try him and he somehow gets over himself and works out on the 3rd line or three – the Pens try him everywhere and he continues to fail and the Pens get Stojanov in return.
Thanks Phil.
Regarding Naslund/Sprong…it just has the same feel, doesn’t it? As you so aptly point out, a pair of talented kids trying to crack a veteran-laden lineup where there really isn’t a spot for them.
Everyone’s points about Sprong not seizing the opportunity are valid, too, and in my mind only deepen the eerie connection to Naslund.
Expected to make a splash, Markus scored only four goals in 71 games during his rookie season in ’93-94 while seeing mostly spot duty. He didn’t fare any better (two goals in 14 games) during the lockout shortened ’94-95 campaign. So that’s basically 85 games with zippo production from a can’t-miss-kid. (Sprong has what…four goals in 26 NHL games so far?)
Then they play Naslund with Mario in ’95-96 and…WHAM…he blossoms. I believe he was actually leading the league in plus/minus at one point and had 12 goals and 36 points in his first 29 games. While some of the spike in output was no doubt through osmosis skating next to Lemieux, it was obvious the kid had pedigree, too.
I guess the point I’m trying to make…and one 55 hit on. The Pens may need to be patient with Sprong. Something that…in the end…they weren’t willing to be with Naslund.
Rick
Rick,
It has almost 100% the same feel. As I remember it, Naslund went to Vancouver and became a more complete player under the tutelage of Mark Messier. Perhaps the Pens can talk Cullen into working with him so they don’t end up in the same situation.
I think the only option for the Sullivan and the Penguins is to hope Sprong can do the job of a 4th liner and fill in for upper line injuries throughout the year. I can’t see him replacing Kessel, Hornqvist or Rust.
I think we really need to have everyone draw up what they believe the offensive lines should be.
I think they can squeeze Sprong in here and I know people will say why not just switch him with Hornqvist. The number one reason would be that I would much rather see Hornqvist or Rust on the first line than Sprong.
Guentzel – Crosby – Hornqvist
Haggelin – Malkin – Kessel
Rust – Brassard – Sprong
Sheahan – Cullen – Aston/Reese
This would give Sprong the chance to play against lesser quality defensemen with quality linemates to build up his confidence.
*You will notice that there is one player absent from the list.
Hey Phil,
Funny thing is, despite our differences over Sprong, I see the lines pretty much the way you do; Hornqvist with Crosby and Sprong on 3rd line.
I had hoped that Grant would pan out, but….
I don’t dislike Simon but he is my odd man out. He is a good play-maker but the team needs shooters.
Hey Rick,
I banged the drum all season last year for Sprong. I do believe he is getting a rotten, rotten deal here in Pgh. I do believe, just like Ian Cole, Sullivan can’t get over his personal issues for the good of the team. Last Playoffs Letang was torched for over half of all the goals scored against the Penguins by the Caps in that series even when you controlled for TOI, Letang’s defense was at the very bottom of the team, Added to that, the lack of secondary scoring; yet Letang was given tons of and quality ice time while Sprong sat in the press box.
This season, very little has changed. Letang, a defenseman, a player responsible for playing defense, makes poor decisions and gives up on plays once he gets turned, yet Sullivan et al at least at the moment appear to still be willing to give him top pairing minutes while banishing Sprong to the 4th line. In the 1stt preseason game against CBJ, the Jackets scored a PPG where Letang’s partner and baby-sitter Dumoulin played his position properly by challenging the shooter Bjorkstrand while floater Letang opted to drift off into the RW FO circle to cover the player farthest from the net, while leaving Boone Jenner to stand unmolested in front of Matt Murray.
And in the same game, Daniel Sprong was deep in his own RW corner, supporting Jamie Oleksiak in the Defensive Zone, while Oleksiak’s partner opted to be a 6yr old hockey player chasing the puck, leaving the front of the net wide open. Oleksiak tried to skate the puck out but coughed it up and right to Bjorkstrand. Crosby was high along the RW boards, the two D were in the corner, only Sprong tried to cut Bjorkstrand off as he darted in front of Murray.
And this is why I am so vocally angry over Sprong’s treatment. there is no evidence to support the raps of lazy and defensively absent Sprong is, when Letang, the player who wears an A on his jersey, and is paid to play Defense is not being held accountable for his abysmal play in his own zone.
For me, as much as I like Sullivan in his over-all performance as coach, I lose some respect for his decision making as these 2 disparate cases play out. I am afraid he does lose some integrity.
Mind you, I do not think it is a bad idea to play Sprong with a player like Cullen, Jaromir Jagr played 3rd line for 2 seasons with Bryan Trottier as his pivot (However, as good as Cullen is I am not really comparing Cullen to the HoF Trottier in all aspects)
Furthermore, as we talked yesterday, next year, should Bjorkvist and/or Hallander justify the scouts reviews, I would not argue or complain about a possible trade. Unlike many (maybe Sullivan), I put team above players or egos. Furthermore, should Sprong be traded, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he proves to be similar to Naslund as you suggest.
I just want honesty to win out and people stop trying to say Sprong doesn’t hustle or try to play D when the graphic, empirical evidence (See the game highlights I refer to above) make those arguments laughable!
Hey The Other Rick And Rick,
Nothing but the truth. I love you guys pure honesty and straight to the point.
It’s hard.
I have lost respect and integrity from Sully’s decisions too. Playing Crosby’s line like a third line, Sheary’s saga and Letang’s saga was the last straw for me.(last season)
I think Sprong deserves a fair chance. I think he does needs to show more and translate it more on the ice. It’s the offensive zone support that needs some strong improvement and Sprong changing his style of play. He plays a straight line hockey and needs to support his linemates better.Attack the Zone better etc..
i don’t think he shows he wants nor give you that urgency that he will do whatever it takes. I do think he has a low hockey iq , doesn’t play Crosby’s style of play and no quickness to keep up.. He might be better some else . If so. Penguins will get a 4 or 5 round pick for him. I don’t mind him playing on the bottom lines to learn and give pens some scoring depth there. Maybe I’m being realistic, Sprong probably never translate his talent on the team, he could just score 5-10 goals and 20-30 points, playing every lines this season and finally get it right.
Sprong’s work ethic, attention to details, vibes, winning puck battles, not taking advice to play pens hockey, demeanor and not taking constructive criticism could be problems for him..
Jackets vs Penguins
Sprong was slow to his spot. Brutal turnover. No awareness. Extended shifts .Out position.to cute with puck/ selfish with puck. Puck watching. Often lost. Up and down game.Etc..
Sabres Vs Penguins game ( from Dksports)
And Sprong, to repeat, will sit. Because he’d need to clear waivers and wouldn’t. And, infinitely more important, he genuinely hasn’t done a blessed thing to earn it.
On this night, one he had to know would be of immense importance for him, he didn’t come close to producing a point, took two shots and generally looked as lost as ever away from the puck. On his first shift, he tried a lateral breakout from just inside the Pittsburgh blue line, which happens to be the singular item high atop the Sullivan verboten list. Later, he eschewed the team’s conventional breakout and tried to stickhandle around the entire Buffalo franchise in the neutral zone, skating right by both open linemates, and that didn’t go any better. And on his final shift, he made yet another lateral pass inside the Pittsburgh blue line, only this one was blind and on the backhand.
Hey tOR,
There is a tiny bit of evidence that supports the rap on Sprong. He didn’t have a point and was the only player on the Pens squad last game that was in the minus column for plus/minus and game before that he was the only forward out of all 12 Penguins forwards that did not register a point.
I do agree with Dee above that he doesn’t seem to show the want or urgency that a player in his position should have. Those are two important characteristics of a good playoff player.
I do believe that the Pens have given him a fair chance. You have seen players like Guentzel, Rust and Aston-Reese come up and earn a spot on the team. These players don’t have the draft pedigree that Sprong has. They came up against the odds, flat out husted, and proved they earned the right to skate on the same sheet of ice as the big boys. What they didn’t do is just show up with idea of entitlement that Sprong has shown.
To tell the truth, other than you telling me Sprong has a good “Corsi” rating I haven’t seen a thing.
After all of that, I’m 100% rooting for Sprong to turn it all around. I truly believe he can do it if he wants to. Sullivan’s putting him on the 4th line to learn from Cullen’s experience and all out hustle might really not be that bad of an idea. It might be the outside of the box thinking Sprong needs right now.
Hey tOR,
I’ve been touting him, too, and I’m still a fan in his corner, but I have to say he’s disappointed thus far this camp. I thought he would turn it up a notch, or two, and come in full of fire. That’s what he needed to do. Too many other forwards in camp, like Johnson, Haggerty, and maybe a few others, looked better, and more engaged. Yes, he’s made some good plays in-game, but he hasn’t shot the puck near enough and he hasn’t been exactly offering the kind of puck transport, or support, that wins allies behind the bench.
Having said that, this doesn’t imply I’m letting Sullivan off the hook. He’s as much responsible for this drama as Sprong and maybe more so because he’s the coach. Still, they’re going to have to play him, ruin him, or lose him. I’d hate to see him buried on the fourth line, but maybe a handful of games there might get him moving in the right direction.
The first problem for Sprong is this team, while in win now mode, doesn’t have the necessary patience that might allow him to catch on. They aren’t yet looking a few years down the road. They also made a mistake with his eligibility. When they decided to do that, maybe they should have kept him here and let him swim, or sink. If they’d done that, he’d either, by now, be an asset, or be gone, instead of still hovering in limbo.
Of course, Sprong needs to be better, too, inspite of coaching’s shortcomings, or attitudes. He needs to be a top six forward to be effective. He has that opportunity. This year. He needs to make the most of it.
A whole year on the fourth line could break him. Are they willing to take that chance? I wouldn’t.
— 55
Dee, Phil, 55
Okay 3 time is hopefully a charm.
I have tried twice now to reply to your comments, once my computer got kicked off line and now a second time I have no idea why my reply disappeared.
Please understand, I am not committed to Sprong. If in the very near future Bjorkvist and/or Hallander beat him out, or even Angello for that matter, I would not complain. What I am ranting about is Sullivan being disingenuous when he is quoted as saying everyone on this team has to earn their ice time.
Sheary did earn his ice time in his rookie campaign, but after that he was far from consistent. He disappeared for more than a month at a time over the next 2 regular seasons, going almost 2 months last year without a goal and disappeared pretty much completely in back-to-back playoff years. Sprong couldn’t have done any worse than Sheary last playoffs. Yet Sprong sat and Sheary played.
Also, although I am not suggesting Sprong will ever be a Selkie winner, he is a far less defensive liability than Letang. The bigger problem here is Letang is paid to and suppose to play defense. Yet in last years playoffs, Letang was on the ice for over half of the goals the Caps scored, most of which were odd man breaks, including lightning fast goals at the start of periods, occuring within the 1st minute, because Letang had no clue. Yet Letang not only played, he got tons of and quality minutes, getting ice time at the starts of periods and ends of games were he was the Caps best player on t he ice.
Can anyone honestly say Sullivan is not being hypocritical when treating Sprong the way he is? Sullivan’s inability to put his own ego in check for the good of the team wasn’t just limited to Sprong but need I remind everyone of Ian Cole?
Dee – I do appreciate your citing specific examples of where you found Sprong’s play problematic. I must confess I haven’t had the opportunity to watch the preseason closely, between the trying to find where the games were being aired and running between clients I missed a lot. I will try and find that Buf game and watch for those plays you mention. However, I will say, in the case of lateral passes at the blue-line, even though I abhor those plays too, and complain immensely when I see them, I have complained about every other player on this team from Crosby and Malkin who a hypocrite may argue earned the right to make bone head plays, to less than star studded players, like the afore mentioned Sheary and Letang as well as many other players. So again, until others are demoted for those plays, than a still say Sullivan is not allowed to complain about Sprong.
Speaking of specific plays;in my original comment I cite a play,
https://www.nhl.com/video/bjorkstrand-finishes-the-hatty/t-277350912/c-61234403
Who do you guys think is at fault/out of position here; Sprong? Oleksiak? Elliott? Crosby? or Murray?
and who played the way he should have played it?
Hey tOR,
If someone adds a link the PPoop anti comment spam bot shuts it down. 99% of spam has links in it.
In answer to your question, I believe only Murray was in position in your link above.
I’m not going to complain or question Sullivan’s handling of players. Three years, 2 cups and 1 loss to the team that won the cup. Hard to complain. The same way you say he is treating Sprong is how he treated Fleury. You loved that. He makes hard decisions.
Sprong is a right wing with the inability to play a bottom six role. The Penguins have two of the best right wingers in the game with Kessel and Horniqvist. Plus you have Rust who has been stellar. Sullivan is a coach not a magician.
Hey Phil,
Thanks for the explanation on the links, I’ll find another way to cite them.
I am not looking to change coaches, Sullivan may go down as the best Penguins coach ever. However, everyone has limitations that they have to overcome, and I do think that Sullivan does have a couple. Sullivan did win 2-Cups but forgot how he won them. He won them with youth and no reservations about sitting $$$$ veterans. Last year veterans who were part of 1 or both Cup teams did not pull their weight and were far worse to the team than Sprong or Cole but played regularly. Once a player gets in Sullivan’s dog house, he never lets them out and refuses to give that player a chance. Conversely, favored players can fail regularly and get away with it. If Sullivan over comes this limitation then he will really separate himself from the rest of the field.
I will not argue that Sprong is better than Kessel, nor will I try to compare Sprong to Hornqvist or Rust, they are 3 entirely different players. Although, I haven’t seen Hallander or Bjorkvist, the scouting reports are high on them. Next year will tell.
Hornqvist plays a hard style for a player not quite that big and is not young anymore. There may come a point this year, where they will be without his services for a protracted period of time. Another RW, a RW that scores goals and can generate offense will probably be required before this season is over. Granted, Angello may be the better player to fill that role, since he would be the one to take it to the net.
But what if Kessel would be the one to get hurt?
I don’t quite see the connection between Sprong and Fleury. Fleury was the veteran and Murray the rookie. In this case Sprong is the rookie who may really need a confidence boost rather than a hypocritical boot.
Sprong was asked to work on his defense. during the preseason he did just that. He may not have been strong enough with his stick to disrupt Bjorkstrand’s hat trick but he was the only skater close enough to try and stop him. He finished the preseason even. He was actually a +1 until the last game when he was demoted to the bottom 6 and only got 12 minutes of ice time and change. Crosby finished the preseason a -1, Malkin -2, Kessel and Grant -3.
Simon did barely have more pts than Sprong, played in more games, but generated less over all offense and also finished tghe preseason even in the +/-, however, no one is talking about Simon’s lackluster camp.
Hopefully I will be able to find some video of some preseason games to try and find the plays Dee cites.
Hey tOR,
What I’m saying with the Sprong/Fleury thing is that Sullivan has to make tough choices, often choices that are unpopular with the fans or with the players. Picking Murray over Fleury was one of those choices. He went with who he thought was better. You believed it to be the right decision and stood by him.
Sullivan made the decision bring up and play Aston-Reese at right wing instead of Sprong last year because of Sprong’s inability to play the role of a 4th liner and having 3 more qualified wingers ahead of him. Sullivan’s options would be to try to plug him in where he doesn’t fit like Bylsma did Iginla, or do what he believes is right for the team.
Sullivan has made many tough player choices like this since he has been coach and he has been highly successful. Some choices I’ve been a huge fan of, others that I really disliked but I can’t argue the results.
As far as the video, was Blue Jacket’s defenseman that Sprong was supposed to be covering in the corner? I didn’t look at names or numbers, but traditionally the winger would be covering the defenseman at the point. If the defenseman wasn’t in the corner then I would say Sprong was way out of position which in turn forced Crosby to play half way back to the point. If a defenseman was in the corner then everyone else was way out of position and Sprong was right. I didn’t watch it close enough.