Seattle Kraken: Four Bold Predictions for the 2022-23 Season
Prediction 3: Daniel Sprong Finally has his Breakout Season
Daniel Sprong hasn’t really figured himself out at the NHL level yet. He has struggled to find a team to call home over his career and hasn’t found his footing.
The reason may be that he hasn’t really been given a fair chance. But Sprong has the potential to be an impactful bottom-six player in the league. His success could be an important key to the Kraken’s overall success.
When Sprong was traded to the Anaheim Ducks during the 2018-19 season, I often sang his praises. However, I also often thought that Randy Carlyle, Bob Murray, and Dallas Eakins all mishandled his development by not giving him adequate opportunities to prove himself.
He had some success with the Washington Capitals, although he didn’t put up big numbers. But I still don’t believe he has reached his full potential.
Sprong played a limited amount of games with the Seattle Kaken last season after coming over from the Caps. Going into training camp, he found himself on a PTO without a firm deal and had to prove himself,
Give the young man some credit; he took his coaches’ notes and showed vast improvements. Sprong was the true underdog story of this year’s training camp, earning a one-year contract and a roster spot.
He is an offensively gifted player with an amazing shot; it’s the other side of his game that leads other teams to pass on him.
“I think the message was loud and clear, what I got in the offseason. I think everyone knows in this league I can provide offense, but it’s the other side of the game [that needs work]… I think in the three games I’ve played in, in the practices, I’ve shown that I’ve listened and matured in that. I think I’ve had a good camp.” – Daniel Sprong, Seattle Kraken Forward
We know it’s Autumn, but Spring has Sprong!
We’ve signed forward Daniel Sprong to a one-year, two-way deal (750k AAV). pic.twitter.com/BPFmqJArVh
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) October 3, 2022
He has all the offensive skills to be a dynamic player at the NHL level. His biggest hurdle will be getting his coach and teammates to trust him. There is always a level of trust and responsibility that needs to be upheld on the ice, especially in last-minute situations, and that is where Sprong struggles.
While I don’t believe he will be one of the Kraken’s top scorers with an outlandish amount of points, this feels like the season Sprong finally puts things together. His creativity, along with his ability to score, has helped him find success in the past. Now Sprong needs to focus on rounding out his game and sticking with it.