December 3, 2018
Marcus Pettersson and Daniel Sprong
The Ducks are one goal-starved team, Sunday’s six-goal eruption in their 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Washington Capitals notwithstanding. Their average of 2.34 goals per game was the second-lowest in the 31-team NHL going into Monday’s action around the league.
They have done a fine job of keeping the puck out of their own net, giving up an average of 2.79 goals per game, the 10th-best average in the league. Their goaltenders and the defensive play in front of them has been superb at times, especially during their four-game winning streak.
Scoring goals has been an issue, though.
So, Ducks general manager Bob Murray took a bold step Monday afternoon to add another offensive weapon, acquiring 21-year-old right wing Daniel Sprong from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for 22-year-old defenseman Marcus Pettersson.
Sprong hasn’t exactly taken the NHL by storm, scoring only four goals and nine points in 42 games in his career with the Penguins. Murray is banking on Sprong’s potential as a scorer who had 32 goals and 65 points in 65 games last season in the AHL.
Sprong reportedly fell out of favor with Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan after getting a chance to practice with Sidney Crosby during training camp. Sullivan dropped him to the fourth line and he averaged less than 10 minutes per game this season.
The Penguins drafted Sprong in the second round (46th overall) in 2015 after a stellar career in the high-scoring Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He had 117 goals and 261 points in 199 games with the Charlottetown Islanders from 2013 to ’17.
The Ducks drafted Pettersson on the second round of the 2014 draft (38th overall) and he worked his way into their lineup coming out of training camp in September. He had one goal and 10 points in 49 games over the past two seasons with the Ducks.
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