The Trade



Anaheim gets forward Daniel Sprong.



Pittsburgh gets defenseman Marcus Pettersson.



Anaheim Ducks: A-minus



In Sprong, the Ducks received a high-end talent who divides evaluators and fans alike. Sprong lit up the QMJHL and was one of the most dangerous scorers in the AHL as a 20-year-old. He’s always been a point producer and an elite shot generator at the levels below the NHL.



He’s got all the tools to succeed. He’s a high-end skater with great hands, a bullet shot and the ability to make plays at the NHL level. When his game is clicking, he can be a real offensive threat. Some NHL folks don’t like Sprong’s makeup. Some claim he’s a good kid but just misunderstood. He’s an inquisitive player who shows an interest in analytics to better his play.



He’s by no means a perfect player, though. For years Sprong’s game has been dogged by inconsistent effort and poor play off...