Guentzel’s shift puts Sprong in press box
to Jean-Sebastien Dea playing his first NHL game this season.
But Sprong also had been benched in the third period Wednesday night of the Penguins’ 5-3 loss against Anaheim, so it stands to reason there’s something Sullivan and the staff aren’t seeing in his game, too.
For his part, Sullivan said he spoke with Sprong before the game against the Kings and explained the situation to him.
“I think that’s part of learning how to be a pro and when you’re trying to establish yourself as an NHL player,” Sullivan said. “A lot of players go through it, Daniel’s no different. It doesn’t, by any means, diminish what we think of Daniel or what we think he can bring to our team. We just think this is just part of the process of development and growth with players and at the same time, coaches have to make decisions on a gameby-game basis that are going to help our team be competitive and help us win games.”
Sprong said he understood the move, even if it was slightly new territory for him. He has been an every-game player for the past few years on his junior team and in the AHL, but, as Sullivan said, the NHL is a bigger step up.
“In juniors and the American League, you know you’re in every night, but up here you’ve just got to take it day by day,” Sprong said. “If you’re out, you just have to get practice and always be ready to go. If I play tomorrow, great, I’ll be ready to go. If not, I’ll wait for another opportunity.”
Sprong has two goals and one assist in his eight games this season, though they all came on the same night, Jan. 5, against the New York Islanders. In his other seven games, he has no points with a minus-1 plus/minus.
Perhaps most concerning for Sullivan and the Penguins, though, is that Sprong seems to have been letting his prodigious shot rip less and less over the past few games. In his first four games, he averaged 4.25 shots on goal per game. In the past four, that number is just 1.25
Still, Sprong said he feels good about how he has played thus far.
“I think I created a lot of chances, I think I’ve been pretty good defensively and I just have to keep building,” Sprong said. “I think I’ve been showing that I can play at this level and be a full-time guy, but that’s not up to me. I just have to keep playing my game and when the opportunity comes, it comes.”
It could come as soon as Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks. Even if Sullivan doesn’t love every aspect of Sprong’s game right now, the raw talent is still undeniable.
“We’re excited about what he’s brought here,” Sullivan said. “He’s a good player, he can really shoot the puck and, obviously, has some scoring touch. We’re trying to work with him with other aspects of his game, but certainly him and I had a conversation on the process.”
Fine for Brown
Kings forward Dustin Brown was fined the maximum $10,000 — but was not suspended — for his cross-check Thursday night on Justin Schultz, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Friday. Evgeni Malkin was fined $5,000 — the maximum allowable in his case — for spearing Brown earlier.
Schultz took part in the Penguins optional practice Friday in San Jose, and said he felt fine. Sullivan classified him as a gametime decision, but sounded optimistic.
Schultz declined to offer an opinion on the lack of suspension for Brown.
“The league deals with that,” he said. “I’m not going to comment on it and start anything. It is what it is, and I’m not hurt, so it’s all right. Hoping to be back next game.”