3 players that fell under expectations this year
#1 Daniel Sprong
Daniel Sprong was supposed to have a bigger role this season with the Capitals. Instead, he was healthy scratched aplenty as head coach Peter Laviolette preferred to play veterans with experience over the youth.
Last year it cost the Caps Jakub Vrana in that cycle. Now it costed them Daniel Sprong as they dealt him at the trade deadline to the Seattle Kraken for Marcus Johansson. Sprong had eight goals with the Caps along with six assists for 14 points in 47 games. So far with the NHL’s newest franchise, Sprong has three goals in 10 games.
I wouldn’t necessarily call the Sprong trade a bad trade. It’s still way too early and it’s even still early to see who won the trade between the Capitals and Detroit Red Wings in the Jakub Vrana for Anthony Mantha deal.
Sprong wasn’t going to work out and I highly doubt he would’ve wanted to stay with the Caps if he continued to get a lack of playing time. This was a good move for both sides. The Caps have already utalized Johansson in the lineup more than they would’ve if Sprong was still on the team.
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Why Laviolette doesn’t like the youth though is beyond me.