VANCOUVER — For Daniel Sprong, his journey in the NHL has been full of twists and turns.
The 27-year-old scoring winger, who signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks, is hoping to make his latest move more than just a pit stop.
“I hope Vancouver isn't just for a year,” Sprong said during a video call Monday. “I can see myself spending a long time there and that's what really gets me excited.”
The Canucks have not disclosed the value of the contract, but multiple reports have put it at $975,000.
Vancouver will be the sixth NHL team Sprong has played for since being selected in the second round of the draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound forward recorded 18 goals and 25 assists in 76 games with the Detroit Red Wings last season and also had stints with the Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals and Seattle Kraken.
Heading into free agency this summer, he was feeling confident.
Sprong admitted he was surprised no suitable offers came in when the market opened on July 1.
“It's kind of a wake-up call, but at the same time, I think it's a good motivator and adds fuel to the fire,” he said.
Vancouver ultimately made a bid and the deal was finalized after a phone call with Canucks head coach Rick Tocquet.
“There were other teams, but when I spoke on the phone I felt most comfortable and happiest with Vancouver so ultimately it was a very easy decision to make,” he said.
Tockett, who won the Jack Adams Award as the league's best coach last season, previously worked with Sprong as a bench assistant in Pittsburgh.
Sprong is also close with Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrick Alvin, both of whom were in the Penguins' front office when Sprong was drafted.
“They drafted me, and they believed in me from the moment I was drafted,” he said.
“I think I've grown a lot since then and my game has evolved. There are still areas of my game that I want to improve on. We've had a call about that and discussed how we can work on that and improve those areas. That will lead to greater opportunities for my team and myself and hopefully more success.”
Born in Amsterdam, Sprong moved with his family to Montreal at the age of seven to gain more opportunities in hockey. He was a standout player for the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL, leading the team with 88 points in the regular season and 11 points in the playoffs.
The transition to professional hockey wasn't always easy.
Spron has 85 goals and 74 assists in 344 NHL regular season games, but his average ice time is 11 minutes, 57 seconds.
The winger said a lack of situational trust from the coaching staff may have affected how he has been used so far, pointing out that his defensive play has not always been strong.
“We're going to be working in Vancouver to earn that trust and be a go-to guy in those situations,” he said. “I'll be working on the details of that over the summer.”
Sprong's scoring ability will bolster a Canucks offensive line that already features centre JT Miller, who had 103 points last season, and right winger Brock Boeser, who had 40 points.
In addition to working on his defense, Sprong said he will also work on his shooting this summer to maintain his offensive edge.
“I think in order to continue to improve as a player it's not just about working on your weaknesses but also developing your strengths, and I think I've been able to do that over time,” he said.
“There are still some things we want to fix, and I think if we fix them, only good things and better outcomes will come out of it.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2024.
