(Daniel Sprong – USA Today Sports Images)

Today has been a decent day for prospects being sent to the development factories.  

Daniel Sprong has been sent down to the baby penguins. Spong collected 59 points in 31 games for the Charlottetown Islanders in 2016-17 and 20 points in 12 playoff games. While there are fantasy owners who are wanting their sprinkles on their sundae right away, you need to be patient. There will be ample opportunities for guys like Sprong and Zach Aston-Reese to play their way back into the NHL. This is purely a development move. Zach played alongside Malkin for much of the preseason so that could be a tease for later.  

Among the players put on waivers today is Ty Rattie of the probably Bakersfield Condors. Edmonton brought in some hired guns and pushed Rattie further down the chart. If you were holding onto him because of the "maybe he could play with McDavid" factor, feel free to adjust your expectations quite a bit. He might be looking for an opportunity elsewhere if he is claimed, but I'd expect that he passes through.  

Vitali Abramov back to Gatineau.  

St Louis was busy all on their own.  

Robert Thomas back to London.  

Jordan Kyrou back to Sarnia.  

Depending on how deep your prospect leagues are, these are three who absolutely be on you radar. The debate on guys like Abramov is based upon what they have left to prove at the junior level. Put Jordan Kyrou on your watch list. He had 94 points in 66 games in 2016-17 and with his skill set at high speeds, he has that breakout element to become a sneaky fantasy performer as soon as next season.  

The Calgary Flames had three players pass through waivers with most notable being 2013 first-round picks Hunter Shinkaruk and Emile Poirier. The Hunter is losing his opportunity to make a dent while Emile is a big story within himself. If you're in a deep fantasy pool, Poirier is already a reclamation project you might wanna grab for free. Poirier left the Stockton Heat in February under the cloud of "personal reasons" and did not return even for the playoffs. After much speculation, The Flames announced his battle with alcohol addiction. He has looked like a rejuvenated player and if he can find some of the AHL magic which gathered him 42 points in 55 games as a rookie in 2014-15. 

If you are looking for the sneaky multi-cat value, start to turn your gaze to the Florida Panthers. They sent down Maxim Mamin and Sebastian Repo. There will be plenty of people in your deeper fantasy pools which will have never heard of either of them. Mamin had 25 points in 42 games in the KHL last season after being drafted in the sixth round in 2016. He is already 22 years old and might just need some seasoning in the AHL before becoming a third-line beast.  

Thanks for reading! This is my first ever rambling and I can already see my ramblings being a lot more rambly.  

You can find me on twitter at @dathockeydoe