Daniel Sprong has 30 goals in 26 games with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, but there’s another number that means much, much more to the Penguins’ top prospect.
His plus/minus rating of plus-31.
For Sprong, a combined minus-50 in his first three years of junior hockey, it represents the type of improvement the Penguins wanted to see from him: better play away from the puck, a more well-rounded game and some semblance of defense.
“I think I’m playing the right way,” Sprong said. “I think a big indication of that is my plus/minus — playing the right way and trusting that the offense is going to come no matter what.