Fansided

One player on each NHL team that should be traded

By Jeremy Lambert

MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 07: General manager of the Montreal Canadiens Marc Bergevin addresses the media prior to the NHL game at the Bell Centre on January 7, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 07: General manager of the Montreal Canadiens Marc Bergevin addresses the media prior to the NHL game at the Bell Centre on January 7, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 04: Daniel Sprong #41 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena on January 4, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 04: Daniel Sprong #41 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena on January 4, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Daniel Sprong. 9. player. 92. . RW. Pittsburgh Penguins

I don’t know why the Pittsburgh Penguins would give up on Daniel Sprong. He’s 20-years-old and has the offensive upside to be a top-6 forward. But that upside is exactly why the Penguins need to trade him at the deadline.

The Penguins are playing their best hockey of the season right now, just in time for the playoffs. Weird how a veteran team and the back-to-back champions can flip a switch like it’s nothing.

This a team with Stanley Cup aspirations once again and they’ll do everything in their power to ensure a return trip to the Finals. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Phil Kessel aren’t old, but they’ve played a lot of hockey in their careers. Their windows closes with each passing year due to natural age and “hockey toll” age.

If Pittsburgh doesn’t see Sprong as part of their future, they should continue to load up in the present.

Gear up for the Penguins’ playoff push with a Sidney Crosby jersey from Fanatics.

I don’t buy the idea that they are trying to trade Kris Letang and I don’t think Ian Cole fetches a worthwhile return. Sprong is the type of talent that the Penguins need to part with if they want to acquire a game-changing forward that they are reportedly seeking. If they want Max Pacioretty or Alex Galchenyuk or Evander Kane, they’ll need to include Sprong in the trade.

Jim Rutherford has no issue trading young talent to load up for a Cup run. He’s done it throughout his tenure in Pittsburgh and he did it in Carolina. Sorry, Sprong. You’re probably not long for Pittsburgh.

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