Should the Penguins Claim Daniel Sprong?

I turned on my phone this morning and was promptly greeted by a text from PP colleague Caleb DiNatale informing me that ex-Penguin Daniel Sprong has been placed on waivers by Seattle.

Mind you, the Kraken are Sprong’s second team this season (and fourth in the last four). He began the campaign skating for the man who drafted him, Jim Rutherford, in Vancouver. It’s safe to say he didn’t make a favorable impression on Canucks coach Rick Tocchet. Or Kraken skipper Dan Bylsma.

I’ll cut to the chase. The 27-year-old right wing and former second-round pick has elite hands and can flat-out snipe. Over the course of 363 games spread over nine NHL seasons (has he been in the league that long?) the Amsterdam native has popped for 87 goals, a tick under 20 per 82-game schedule. And that’s while averaging 11:57 of ice time.

Sprong’s career-best is 21 goals, set two seasons ago in 66 games with the Kraken, followed by 18 last season with the Red Wings. During the Covid shortened ’20-21 campaign he scored 13 goals in 42 games for the Capitals, a 25-goal pace over a full season.

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