Sprong leading the way offensively in second year
Mar 21, 2015 - 11:48 ADT
Written By: Harris, Ally
Daniel Sprong hasn’t let the pressure of being draft-eligible weigh down on his play this season.
Last year’s MVP has had an excellent second season with the team, leading the team in all three offensive categories.
“I’m happy with my season,” he said. “I progressed a lot as a two-play player and I put up pretty good numbers. I had a good second half and I hope that can continue going into the playoffs.”
He has recorded 37 goals and 48 assists for 85 points so far this year, placing him in the top 15 in league scoring.
Sprong said he’s tried to put the draft to the back of his mind and just focus on the game.
“At the beginning of the year we looked a lot at the rankings, but right now we’re worried about playing a game at a time.”
“As a young guy, there’s lots to deal with, but I think Daniel did a good job of parking those distractions and really focusing back on what makes him a top offensive player,” said head coach Gordie Dwyer.
Sprong has spent the year on the top line with Alexandre Goulet and rookie Filip Chlapik. Sprong and Chlapik have built great chemistry over the season, even though it didn’t come right away.
“In the start it wasn’t bad but we both wanted the puck,” said Chlapik. “Daniel was a big star last year and I was a star last year too, so we came and we both wanted to do our best.
“Now, it’s pretty good. We try to find the other guy and if we play together, we can do really good things.”
Sprong said he feels his overall game has improved this year thanks to the veteran presence in the Islanders’ locker room.
“We had a lot of veterans this year with Ryan (MacKinnon) and Ross (Johnston) in the room, who really showed me how to become more of a leader and what it takes to become effective in this league and of course in the next level. I’ve been really working hard on my two-way game and I think it’s been really improved.”
And MacKinnon, who was traded in from Rimouski in the offseason, has been impressed with what he’s seen from the 18-year-old.
“This is the first year I’ve really been able to see the skill set he has,” he said. “He definitely has a bright future ahead of him, hopefully he can put it all together and make it work.”
His teammates and coaches have also been impressed with the way he has dealt with numerous distractions over the course of the season.
“It’s part of becoming a player, learning to deal with expectations and distractions and narrowing your focus on your development as a player,” said Dwyer. “It’s a lesson to be learned for any player.
“He’s our leading goal scorer, he’s our leading point getter and he’s had an excellent offensive season, but in the second half he’s really taken his game in hand and gone back to being that explosive guy night in and night out.”
“A lot of people see him having a huge year, but he’s just 18 years old,” said MacKinnon. “He’s still a young kid going through a lot of things that no one’s ever experienced before. At the start of the year he had some difficulties dealing with it but he definitely learned how to.
“He’s a special player and special players do special things, and that’s what he’s been doing.”
2 way player met -23
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