Sproul has played 22 NHL games. 21 of them have been on a completely dysfunctional team where one of his biggest strengths (PP) simply isn't being put to use.
Skill looks good with skill. Sproul may never turn into a top pairing guy, he may never stop making defensive errors. But he can absolutely move the puck, he can walk the blueline, he has a rocket shot that he can actually get on net, he can rush the puck (seriously did everyone miss that end-to-end rush he had in this game?). When we actually start inserting some more skill into this lineup my bet is he is one of those players that will suddenly start looking a lot better. Especially if he can develop his defensive game a bit more, which you have to let him try to do.
Blows my mind that the kid is getting so much critique on a team starved for any shred of skill on D, on a board screaming for a rebuild and youth movement. This is what you get. Kids making defensive errors, and you hope they learn.