The funniest thing is the handling of Riikola and people here are still complaining he gives players a fair shot all the time, always, always!!!
Sprong had a lot of jump in his first game with the Ducks, then he had 2 meh games with them, but the difference was that Carlyle kept putting him in positions to succeed to allow him to develop or rather, flame the fires on that offensive skill of his. He didn't cut his minutes to 8mins a game, he still played 15+ with the Ducks so far in various top 9 positions.
He even had the ****ing balls to play him while tied in his 1st game, then again for the shootout to help win the game. Imagine that, giving a kid with offensive skill, chances to play in an offensive role and let him play through his ****.
Riikola, holy ****, this is probably a bigger moronic move than the Sprong stuff with Sullivan. He continues to play guys that play terrible through their stuff but will never give Riikola a shot to do the same, and the funny thing is he hasn't even been as terrible as some of the other guys. In this situation, you hope Riikola plays very well as his cap hit is so dirt cheap that if he really does play very well, he pushes out a bigger contract and gives JR more to work with at the deadline.
Now I wait for someone to completely misunderstand my post and complaint and mention how much rope Sprong got (he didn't) and how Riikola has to earn it (he has, more than some of the other turds that continue to get a shot over him).