Honestly Rip, how often do you think that happens with sniper prospects at 21 years old? They get 9 minutes a night on the 4th line starting in their own end 60% of the time and somehow tilt the ice with their 2-way play and boardwork?
Both of ZAR and Simon seem to be doing just fine in that dept. But then no one is asking him to "tilt the ice". Nor does Sprong need to be some expert there - he just can't be utterly inept there, which he currently is. I mean even with Sheary when he first came here, he brought you something when he wasn't scoring (which was most of the time when he first came up). He had his speed, which he used effectively on the forecheck and he was good in the corners fishing pucks out and finding his linemates. Sprong does none of this. If he's not creating chances or being a threat offensively, he brings you absolutely nothing and is not someone you want on the ice.
The idea that because he's a "sniper prospect" that we need to treat him significantly differently is idiotic. Simon was getting the exact same treatment Sprong was getting for most of the early part of the season. It wasn't until recently that he got a chance that Sprong didn't (and likely won't) get - and a good part of why is because Simon isn't a one dimensional player who can only provide you with some offense (and how much is rather questionable) while being bad defensively.
All I want is a precedent for the things people expect here. Doesn't it seem reasonable to want an example of players doing the sorts of things that people expect Sprong to do?
Yep. And we have them - you just don't like them because it doesn't suite your agenda that Sprong is by no fault of his own (that big bad evil Sullivan) is getting f***ed by the coach. You also refuse to recognize that A) our team is a deeper team then when Sheary and Rust broke onto the roster several years ago, and B) that our team is in a difference place then it was then. Which means the same leeway and standards that we had then would have been raised to account for our recent success and current depth.
Bottom line is Sprong needs to play better and do more then what he's done so far this year... because he's done himself zero favors this year with his play, and has shown very little to force Sullivan to give him more icetime in a bigger role. And no I'm not just talking points here (because I know you'll bring it up). He's not out there regularly wowing anyone. He doesn't come off the ice leaving you thinking, damn that was exciting (unless it's about the play in the DZ). Hell half the time you don't even notice him out there... which for a "high offense sniper" isn't a good thing.
Issue I have with you complaining about Sprong is, he is not a 4th line player. Never played like one. This is the same issue Kasperi Kapanen had/has with the Leafs. And until Nylander went down everyone forgot how good of a player and sniper he is. Ever since he played on the top two lines he has produced. Sprong is not a gringer or a 4th line winger or 3rd as a matter of fact. The kid needs to play.
Doesn't matter if you're a grinder or not... there's very very few examples of players who have found success at the NHL level who are offense only players, who's defense sucks (Sprong is statistically the worse on the Pens), and who brings you absolutely nothing when they're not scoring. The few guys who do fall into that category are usually elite offensive players who do so much offensively that coaches are willing to overlook all/most of their other faults. OR the team is one that's bad enough and desperately needs offense that they have a roster spot available for him simply because they have no one else to play there. Neither of those apply to the Penguins, and Sprong's offensive game isn't so good that the rest of his faults should be overlooked.
And even your Kapanen example is a shitty example. Because while he was on L4 and didn't do much offensively (7g/9pts in 38 games), he was a regular on the PK, had more take away's then give aways and was using his body (1.5 hits a game). Thus at the bare minimum, KK was giving the team something when he wasn't scoring. Sprong is giving you NONE of those things, while only giving you a little more offense and (although I'm guessing here) worse defense, and he's certainly not someone you'd want on the PK. If Sprong could do what KK did last season, we should be overjoyed. But apparently even just providing that is some sort of unreasonable expectation for a sniper.
