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Pittsburgh Penguins: Questions on Sprong, Perron Remain After Preseason

By Mike Necciai

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The Pittsburgh Penguins would have liked to finish the preseason on a better note. With many of their top names in the lineup, it would have been nice to leave Carolina with a bit of added confidence. However, that isn’t necessarily what preseason is all about.

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The Penguins were able to accomplish much of what they aimed for throughout training camp and exhibition games. The goal was simple. Acclimate Kessel, find out what Sergei Plotnikov is all about and try to sort out the logjams on the blue line and at left-wing.

While there aren’t answers to every question yet, there are a few items on that list the Penguins can check off easily. Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby are a match made in heaven. The speed in which they hit the neutral zone and their ability to read each other will give opponents fits for the foreseeable future. The Pittsburgh Penguins and their fans are witnessing what happens when great players are accompanied by other great players. It’s special.

Sprong Forcing the Hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins

What’s left to say about Daniel Sprong? At this point, there’s little doubt that Sprong has earned at least a nine-game tryout with the Pens. My assumption is, if he earns nine games, there’s a very good chance he earns the other 73.

Sprong’s speed isn’t a surprise to me. I knew what he offered in that regard already. I can’t even say that his shot, which Crosby implied is already an NHL shot, has shocked me all that much.

Sprong’s confidence and ability to truly look like a star in this league, however, has blown me away. Reminiscent of his new teammate, Evgeni Malkin, Sprong has the confidence and skill to carry the puck around the offensive zone until he finds something he likes. He’s relentless on the puck and simply looks driven. I normally don’t like to hang my hat on intangibles but this kid is special. Players like this find ways to score and they’re relentless in their pursuit to do so. Like I shared on Twitter last night.

The Canes weren’t killing a penalty here, despite being hemmed in and collapsed close to the crease. What this gif doesn’t reflect is Sprong’s play behind the net and the fact that he essentially circles all five Hurricanes in a Malkin-esque way. They found themselves pinned, having to respect the capabilities of an 18-year old with only a few preseason games under his belt.

It’s still very early, of course. But Sprong could make a guy like David Perron even more expendable, which may mean the rumors of Pittsburgh pursuing a top-four defenseman by moving Perron could be more likely.

Perron Demoted But Praised Postgame

While I do believe that Jim Rutherford is likely using Perron’s name as trade bait to address the defense, I don’t think he has necessarily fallen out of grace in Pittsburgh. Many read too much into his fourth line role in last night’s preseason game.

This time of year is all about finding out what works. Perron spent time on the third line last night as well, as Mike Johnston shuffled things around in order to get one last glimpse of what he has prior to the regular season starting. And, Perron had a pretty good game, flashing some skill and also revitalizing a feistiness that we expected when he was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers.

Johnston was complimentary in his post-game media scrum.

David Perron could very well get traded in the near future. But, it’s because he’s a marketable asset with only one-year left on his contract that carries a $3.8 million cap hit and actually pays him $4.5 million. And, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a need on defense.

Will the Pens trade Perron for defensive help? Does a move for Dustin Byfuglien actually have legs? There are still a lot of questions to be answered but the preseason is over. It’s time for the Penguins to figure this all out when it actually counts.

Next: Cautious Optimism the Theme for 2015

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