Sprong eager to get started on 2017-18

“Development camp is the start of the beginning ,” S prong said .“I just want togo in there, have a good camp and continue working[ in Montreal] with my train-ers.

“Then when I goto the rookie tournament and main camp, I have to earn a spot and show what kind of player I can be for this orga-nization.”

The Penguins selected S prong in the second round (46 th overall) of the 2015 NHL draft. This 6- foot ,180- pound right wingers aw 18 games in 2015-16, but he was deployed mostly in a fourth-line role with limited offen-sive opportunity.

Sprong scored 16 goals in 33 games with his junior team, Charlotte town Islanders of the QMJHL, before joining the 2016 Cup run as a Black Ace. Off sea-son shoulder surgery fol-lowed. When Sprong got going with the Islanders this sea-son, a major directive from the Penguins was for Sprong to improve his play away from the puck, to focus on things like his posi-tioning, stick and awareness.

That improved in a big way; the plus -29 rating S prong punched up doesn’t tell the whole story, but it tells some, considering he was a combined minus -50 his first three years of ju-nior. The scoring took a sig-nificant step forward, too, with S prong producing 32 goals in 31 regular-season games and nine more in 12 post season contests.

“When I got sent down to junior this year, I had a good season point-wise ,” S prong said .“But the most important thing for me was playing away from the puck. I think that was the first step in showing what kind of player I want to be in the NHL.”

At development camp, S prong knows the Penguins will be watching more than just his hockey. As one of the more expe-rienced players—he’s the only one who has played in the NHL—Penguins man-agement will be watching for what sort of example S prong sets for everyone else. S prong said he’s ready.

“Playing 18 games my 18- year-old year, I was still a young kid, still trying to learn some things ,” S prong ,20, said.

“I think being around all the guys really helped me out, especially Matt Cullen, who I played with most of the time. He showed me a lot of things. “When I had my shoulder[ injury ], I got to see how those guys do it on an every-day basis for such along time. This year in junior, I was an alternate captain. I tried to lead there. I think I’ve developed a lot since I’ve been drafted and learned a lot of new things. I look forward to learning a lot more.”

Another highly touted prospect who will draw plenty of attention is Zach Aston-Reese, the H obey Baker Award finalist from Northeastern who led the NCAA in goals (31) and points (63). S prong has never met Aston-Reese, but he said he has heard a lot of good things through mutual friends.

“He’ s a very good player ,” S prong said .“I look forward to meeting him and going on the ice with him .” With his shoulder no lon-ger an issue, S prong saidhe’s simply trying to main-tain his weight this off sea-son.

“I’ m pretty happy with the weight I played at this year ,” S prong said.“I had a good year. Felt good .” This summer will be more about individual skills, honing his above-averages hot, continually improving his skating and adding strength .“Just becoming a better player everyday by working hard on my speed and strength and making sure there are no weak points in order to take that next step ,” Sprong said. And, with such so much to accomplish in such a short amount of time, probably limited breaks aswell.

“I’m just excited for devel-opment camp ,” S prong said .“To have a good week, a good experience and go right back to Montreal and con-tinue working out .”