Daniel Sprong Sidelined 7-8 Months After Surgery

Daniel Sprong, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ second-round draft pick (46th overall) in 2015 will be sidelined for 7-8 months after undergoing successful shoulder surgery.

Daniel Sprong underwent successful shoulder surgery and will be sidelined 7-8 months. Info: https://t.co/eH06Fi4XeC pic.twitter.com/ZbIsjR3s6l

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 17, 2016

Sprong played 18 games with the Penguins this season before being reassigned to the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL. When the Islanders were eliminated in the second round of the QMJHL playoffs, Sprong joined the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins for their postseason run.

He scored five goals and seven total points through 10 playoff games at the AHL level.

Sprong was also one of the Penguins’ ‘black aces’, which refers to a group of players brought up to the NHL level for their postseason run. According to Pittsburgh’s official statement, Sprong was injured in practice at some point during the NHL playoffs.

With the Penguins signing a large portion of their depth wingers, namely Conor Sheary, Tom Kuhnhackl and Scott Wilson for next season, Sprong has quite the uphill battle if he plans to play in the NHL at any point in 2016-17. This injury will likely put things on hold in that regard, and he can finish out the season in Charlottetown upon his return.