Should Penguins Reunite With Former Draft Pick Daniel Sprong?

NHL Free Agency began on July 1, and the Pittsburgh Penguins were busy handing out deals to Matt Grzelyck, Anthony Beauvillier, and Blake Lizotte, to name a few.

After seven days, the only free agent left on the board with over 50 points is Joe Pavelski, who is headed toward retirement. 

However, the highest-scoring player still available is former Penguins second-round draft pick Daniel Sprong, who had 43 points with the Detroit Red Wings in 2023-24.

Although it took him several years to establish himself, Sprong became a 20-goal scorer and has now produced back-to-back 40-point campaigns.

Last year, Sprong made $2 million with the Red Wings, and that kind of salary would push the Penguins right up against the salary cap. However, a depth winger who produces in today's game is a hot commodity that shouldn't be overlooked.

So, should General Manager Kyle Dubas reevaluate and bring home a former draft pick?

Sprong Out Produced Beauvillier, Lizotte, and Hayes

Out of the three acquisitions Dubas recently made, bringing in Beauvillier (17 points), Lizotte (15 points), and trading for Kevin Hayes (29 points), it is surprising to see that Sprong outperformed all of them and had more points than Beauvillier and Lizotte combined.

Based on his 43 points, Sprong would have ranked seventh in team scoring, right behind Kris Letang (51) and ahead of newly departed Reilly Smith (40).

With 18 lamplighters, his goal production would have placed him in fifth place, behind Jake Guentzel, who had 22 goals before being traded, and ahead of Drew O'Connor (16 goals).

Last year, Reilly Smith averaged 16:08 in ice time and scored 13 goals and 40 points. Before free agency, Dubas dealt him to the New York Rangers for two draft picks.

Lizotte's career high in points is 34, Beauvillier's is 40, and Hayes had seven 40-point seasons on his resume, with 29 last season.

Hayes will see top-six minutes, but after him, the production levels on the wings drop significantly after Richard Rakell (37 points) and Bryan Rust (56 points). 

Why the Penguins Passed on a Reunion With Sprong

When Pittsburgh drafted Sprong 48th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Jim Rutherford was the General Manager. After three years under Mike Sullivan, he played 42 games with nine points and a minus-six rating. 

Since leaving the Penguins, Sprong has collected 81 goals and 150 points in 302 games. At 26, he's proven that he's an NHL player and has finally carved out a place for himself on competitive teams like the Seattle Kraken and Red Wings.

Unfortunately, if Sprong returned, he'd be back under the guidance of Sullivan, who only played him an average of 9:40 a night during his time with the club.

Even though the majority of the lineup has changed since 2019, the same head coach is running the show, and if he didn't believe Sprong could perform the first time, he could have been a decisive factor in why the Penguins didn't kick the tires on Sprong in 2024.

Ultimately, Dubas and the Penguins plan to start reclamation projects, hoping that a change of scenery will reignite the careers of Beauvillier, Lizotte, and Hayes, allowing the team to keep its Stanley Cup contender window open.

However, someone else will sign Sprong, and he will score 20 goals again. Who knows, he could even reach 50 points in the right setting. 

Considering the depth players the Penguins signed don't instill a lot of confidence in the fanbase, missing out on someone like Sprong, who recently found success in the league, could be a move everyone looks back at and wonders why they didn't pursue it.