Pittsburgh Penguins: Bennett and Sprong Given Added Opportunity
By Mike Necciai
The Pittsburgh Penguins have yet to officially start the 2015-16 regular season but they’re already picking up where they left off last season in the injury department.
As was reported earlier this morning, Pascal Dupuis will miss significant time, at least a month, with an undisclosed lower body injury. While this is a big blow to both the Penguins and Dupuis, it provides Beau Bennett and rookie Daniel Sprong with an opportunity for increased roles and additional minutes.
Bennett With a Chance to Excel in a ‘Prove It’ Season
Beau Bennett, entering his fifth season since being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 2010 entry draft, signed a one-year deal this summer that is essentially his last chance to prove his worth to the team. The young, talented forward has battled frequent injury issues throughout his short career and while some of it could be chalked up to bad luck, it has hampered his development none-the-less.
Bennett took a new approach to training this offseason and arrived at camp with a noticeably larger frame. He added a good bit of muscle mass that should help with 50/50 battles and general board work. Those aspects of his game needed a lot of work but the main goal was likely to increase his durability.
With Dupuis’ injury, Bennett has now jumped to third line wing alongside Nick Bonino at center and opposite of David Perron. That line should prove to be a tough matchup for opponents that face the daunting task of shutting down Pittsburgh’s top-six. This is truly an opportunity for Bennett to work with capable line mates and prove that he belongs here. Will he capitalize? If not, there’s another youngster right on his heels.
Sprong May Be the Long-Term Solution for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Athletes don’t like to talk about it and fans of that individual also avoid the conversation quite often, but the fact remains, Dupuis isn’t getting any younger. While there isn’t much detail as to what his current ailment is, would you be surprised if it turned into more than a month-long absence?
If Bennett fails to take advantage of this opportunity like he has in year’s past, look for newcomer Daniel Sprong to make a strong case for an even larger role with the Pens. His play throughout camp and impact in preseason has been a pleasant surprise. If he continues to standout in that fashion throughout his nine-game tryout and outperforms Bennett, the Pens will have no choice but to keep him around.
Mike Lange, the Pittsburgh Penguins play-by-play radio voice, stated that Sprong is one of only five players that he immediately knew could play in the NHL upon his initial exposure to them. To put that compliment into perspective, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were not on the list. There are many analysts and mainstream media types that you should take with a grain of salt but Lange isn’t one of them. When he speaks, you listen.
The Penguins will be able to sustain without Dupuis much better than they have in the past. Bennett and Sprong are a big reason for that and until Eric Fehr returns, the Pens will need them to be at the top of their respective game. The Pittsburgh Penguins faithful wanted a youth movement this season and thanks to unfortunate injuries, they just might get their wish.
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