In the 18 games rookie Daniel Sprong played in for the Penguins this past season, he flashed eye-catching speed and an NHL-level shot.
It is safe to say the franchise had plans for the talented winger. Now, they are on hold.
Sprong, 19, had right shoulder surgery that will sideline him for seven to eight months, the club announced on Friday afternoon.
“It’s disappointing. The biggest thing is it will set his development back a little bit,” said general manager Jim Rutherford. “I don’t think it sets it back that we have to be overly concerned. He’s a young guy. He’ll heal a hundred percent. He’s not going to start to play in September, will be more like December, January now.”
Rutherford had no update on center Evgeni Malkin, who said this week he would be undergoing an MRI on his elbow to determine if he, too, will need surgery.
The club is hoping for the best, said Rutherford: “That’s for sure. No update on that at this point.”
Sprong injured himself while practicing during the Penguins’ Stanley Cup run as a member of the “Black Aces,” which would explain why he was seen wearing a sling on the ice at SAP Center after Game 6 as the team celebrated.
“Yeah, it happened in one of the workouts when he was up here when he got recalled,” said Rutherford. “We knew he was going to have surgery.”
Sprong scored two goals before he was returned to his junior team, the Charlottetown Islanders.
The surgery was completed by team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas.
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NOTE — The Penguins unveiled a new 50th anniversary logo Friday, which includes a fourth Stanley Cup wedged under the Penguin logo where three Stanley Cup’s previously sat.
Jenn Menendez: jmenendez@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JennMenendez.
First Published: June 17, 2016, 7:01 p.m.
