HW Staff Mock Draft Pick 21: Daniel Sprong

Swimming in the Sabres Prospect Pool

Well, not much has changed here since the Buffalo Sabres selected Jack Eichel with the 2nd overall selection in our Mock Draft. The Sabres are a team that have been stuck in the bottom half of the league for enough years now that these higher end draft prospects need to start paying off soon, lest the Sabres of Buffalo want to be branded as Edmonton East. With Eichel now in the fold, the Sabres will be looking to add depth at any position with their 2nd selection in the first round, and continue stocking the cupboards with their 31st overall and 51st overall selections in the 2nd round. This pick could likely come down to being a "best player available" pick for the Sabres.

Enter Daniel Sprong

Daniel Sprong feels like a perfect fit to Jack Eichel. These two could potentially grow together with the franchise and bring the Sabres to great heights. Both players show a creative knack for the game and are threats whenever the puck is on their sticks. Sprong has shown elite skill in the Q, and the nickname The Flying Dutchman was earned, and is not just a product of his birthplace in the Netherlands. His speed jumps out at you right away when you watch this kid take to the ice. He's wrist shot flies off his stick and he can put that puck on a rope to the corners at will.

The right-shot winger stands at 6'0" tall and tips the scales at 190 lbs. One of the few knocks against Sprong is his tendency to float around his defensive zone and he's not overly intimidating on the back check. While floating may not always be a terrible trait, especially when you're trying to utilize his speed on a defensive zone breakout, it is something that will be exposed at the NHL level. While Sprong has shown he is probably one of the biggest offensive threats in this years draft, arrogance and self-importance have brought up as some questionable personality traits for this youngster, which is why his stock has dropped as far down the draft board as it has. Future Considerations has him ranked as high as 18 and Central Scouting places him 20th among North American skaters. On the low end McKeen's ranks Sprong at 44 while Craig Button and Bob McKenzie have him ranked 38th and 33rd respectively.

Wild About Daniel Sprong?

It's too bad though Wilderness, Tony already jinxed this one.