Daniel Sprong, Seattle Kraken.
At the trade deadline, Seattle Kraken acquired forward Daniel Sprong. His NHL resume might not look the most flattering, having played for three different franchises already (he is only 25). But there is much more to his game than what’s strictly on paper. He is the type of player the Kraken needs.
Sprong played his junior hockey days for Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL. His Junior career spanned five years with three 30-goal seasons.
The Pittsburgh Penguins selected him in the second round (46th overall) in 2015. He played 18 games with the Pens during his rookie NHL season before being returned to Charlottetown for further development.
With Pittsburgh being so deep at forward, there wasn’t room for Sprong in their top-6, resulting in his demotion to the AHL. In 2018, he began his year in Pittsburgh and was traded to Anaheim for defenseman Marcus Pettersson.
After the trade, Sprong had his first real opportunity to log some ice time, which resulted in him potting 14 goals (tied for fourth on the team) and 5 assists in the season’s final 47 games.
Sprong was again on the outside looking in as the Ducks entered another rebuild. After 8 games, Anaheim sent him down to their AHL affiliate in San Diego.
Looking for more defense, Anaheim traded him, at the 2020 deadline, to the Capitals in exchange for defenseman Christian Djoos. His time in Washington was similar to Pittsburgh – Washington had their top-6 forwards secured.
With Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Tom Wilson. on the team, prime minutes were scarce. Despite being down on the depth chart, Sprong scored 13 goals and added 7 assists in 42 games.
Sprong got off to a slow start in 2021; the lack of playing time resulted in him scoring only 8 goals and 6 assists.
On March 21st, Seattle acquired Sprong in exchange for veteran forward and pending unrestricted free agent Marcus Johansson, who was not likely to re-sign with the Kraken.
Washington needed depth at scoring in their bottom-6 forwards, and Johansson fit the bill. Seattle needed a player who could plug directly into the NHL lineup, and Sprong needed an opportunity to show he could play at the NHL level. This trade was a win-win-win for everyone.
Sprong immediately fit right in with the Pudget Sound boys, scoring 3 goals in his first 3 games (and assisting on the disallowed goal in his 4th game against Vegas). That’s a good way to show the new team he belongs there.
Sprong needed a fresh start and an opportunity to show he could play in the NHL as a top-6 forward. More than just an ability to score, his grit and determination make Sprong a perfect player for an expansion team looking to find an identity.
He has speed, a booming slapshot, the ability to score from multiple areas of the ice, and is not afraid to throw a check. In his 6 games with Seattle, he has 23 shots and is scoring at a 13.0 percent rate.
To put these numbers in perspective, in the 47 games leading up to the trade, he took 102 shots and scored at a 7.5 percent clip. So he’s almost doubling the rate he had in Washington and is taking twice the amount of shots.
Here is what Coach Hakstol had to say about Sprong prior to Wednesday’s game:
“This is a new opportunity for him. This is a chance to prove he can be a 200 foot player. He has a weapon in his shot and is able to score in this league. It is not about what he is bringing to this team and his past track record. For me, it is about him showing what he can do here.”
Hakstol knows his new forward has a real chance to make an impact on this team – and his career. Sprong is a pending restricted free agent, meaning he could be due for a raise or a new contract.
If the Seattle Kraken extends him a qualifying offer to Sprong, his salary will increase from $725,000 to $761,250 for next year. Given how he’s performing right now, the Kraken would be foolish not to offer him a contract.
In addition to his shooting skills, Sprong has other talents. He plays a 200-foot game, can back check, throw hits, and finds passing lanes.
It is also important to note that Hakstol is clearly giving Sprong an opportunity to showcase his talent. In his first games, he averaged 14:15 minutes of ice time. As a comparison, his highest average ice time between Pittsburgh, Anaheim, and Washington was 13:15 with Anaheim. An extra minute of ice time a night can impact the stat sheet.
Another good sign is when Kraken pulled their goalie down 2-0 against Vegas last Wednesday. The player that hopped over the boards as Driedger skated to the bench was none other than Sprong. This indicates that Hakstol sees Sprong as an offensive threat who can make a difference and spark a comeback.
It has been a long journey for Daniel Sprong. He has seen many cities, from the cold winters in Atlantic Canada to the sunny summers of Anaheim. The forward also played in the shadows of all-time greats like Crosby and Ovechkin, preventing him from showing what he could do in the NHL.
The 25-year-old now has a real opportunity to shine with the Seattle Kraken. Sprong has finally Sprung this spring. Kraken fans should be excited to see what he can bring to the table and help build the core. Watch for his name to appear on the stats sheet several more times throughout the remaining 13 games.
Do you think the Seattle Kraken found a keeper in Daniel Sprong? Let us know in the comments section below.