Daniel Sprong News

Sprong was a surprise scratch on Wednesday but will play tonight vs. the Flyers. Sprong has been outstanding in Alex Ovechkin's absence, scoring five goals in his last five games.

Sprong has one goal and three assists in his last 11 games and will be replaced by Daniel Carr in the lineup on Thursday.

Sprong is a former highly regarded prospect who is now with his third team in two years. Spring has not had a problem scoring in the AHL, posting 11 goals with 16 assists (27 points) in 39 games with San Diego this season. However, he has just 19 goals and 11 assists (30 points) in 97 career NHL games with the Penguins and Ducks. He'll report to Hershey (AHL) and have to work his way up to the high-powered Capitals.

Sprong did not appear in a single game during his most recent call-up so he'll go back to the AHL where he can play some games. Kiefer Sherwood was called up to take his spot on the roster.

Sprong has spent most of the season in the AHL but has two points (1G / 1A) in eight games with the Ducks. During his time with San Diego, the 22-year-old has amassed 24 points (9G / 15A) in 31 games.

Sprong was sent down to the AHL on Saturday but was quickly recalled and could play Tuesday in Vegas. Sprong has compiled 14 goals and five assists (19 points) in 48 career games with Anaheim.

Sprong played in one game during his call-up but sat as a healthy scratch on Friday with Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg back in the lineup. Sprong returns to the AHL, where he has seven goals and 11 assists (18 points) in 24 games.

Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg are out with the flu and Rickard Rakell has an upper-body injury, paving the way for Sprong to appear in his 90th career NHL game on Sunday. The 22-year-old has 18 points (7G / 11A) in 24 AHL games this season and had 19 points (14G / 5A) in 47 NHL games last year.

Kloos was in his second year in the Wild’s AHL farm system before being acquired for Pontus Aberg in January and spending 25 games with San Diego (AHL). Kloos has just two career NHL games under his belt and spent last year posting 18 goals and 27 assists (45 points) in 59 combined NHL games. Look for him to start 2020 with San Diego but could be one of the first call-ups for a thin Ducks team.

Kloos has registered 12 goals and 18 assists (30 points) in 34 games with Iowa (AHL) this season. Aberg had a nice run but fell out of favour with head coach Randy Carlyle as of late, serving as a healthy scratch for four straight games. Kloos will report to San Diego (AHL) at first but could earn a call-up if the Ducks continue to struggle.

Sprong, 21, was a second-round pick (No.46 overall) in 2015 but has had a difficult time getting his legs under him in Pittsburgh. After torching the AHL for 32 goals and 33 assists (65 points) in 65 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), Sprong picked up just four assists in 16 games with the Penguins this year. He had a hard time breaking into the Penguins top-6 and wasn’t as effective in the bottom-6. Sprong has a chance to play top-6 minutes in Anaheim, making him worthy of a speculative waiver add.

Sprong was in the lineup for the last two games, but will be replaced by Sidney Crosby on Wednesday. Sprong has torched the AHL throughout his career, but has just four assists in 14 games with Pittsburgh this season.

Sprong dominated the AHL last season, collecting 32 goals and 33 assists (65 points) in 65 games before being called-up by the Penguins. After arriving in the NHL, he had two goals and one assist in eight games. Sprong has been great at lower-levels but it hasn’t translated into NHL success yet.