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The Anaheim Ducks announced Monday morning that the team has acquired forward Daniel Sprong from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Marcus Petterson.
BREAKING: We've acquired right wing Daniel Sprong (@Sprong97) from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Marcus Pettersson.
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) December 3, 2018
➡ https://t.co/xjVw0epkQ3 pic.twitter.com/JHq5IQ4GLQ
Daniel Sprong, a second round draft pick, 46th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft had yet to find his footing with the Penguins. After putting up 59 points in 31 games for the Charlottetown Islanders in his final year of junior hockey, he followed that up with an impressive first year of professional hockey, tallying 65 points (32 goals and 33 assists), with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season.
He has yet to make a real impact in the NHL though, only tallying 9 points in 42 games, and battling healthy scratches and playing on the fourth line throughout.
Marcus Pettersson, on the other hand, has played in all but two of the Ducks’ games this season, tallying 6 points, mainly on third pairing duty.
This trade likely means that Jacob Larsson has earned the now vacant third pairing job, as mentioned by Staff Writer Felix Sicard.
Maybe the biggest winner of this trade: Jacob Larsson. Even when Cam Fowler returns, the runway seems to be cleared for him to remain in the lineup as a third pairing guy. Clear vote of confidence from the front office.
— Felix Sicard (@Felix_Sicard) December 3, 2018