The Devils have acquired depth winger Daniel Sprong from the Kraken, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Seattle is receiving a seventh-round pick in return, according to Tim Booth of the Seattle Times.
A minimal return will be all Seattle lands for scoring winger Sprong, who they acquired for future considerations from the Vancouver Canucks in November. Sprong went unclaimed on waivers two months later, and the Kraken used that chance to assign him to the minor leagues. He’s been absolutely red-hot ever since, with 11 goals and 25 points in 19 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. That’s exorbitantly more than the five points Sprong scored in 19 NHL games to start the season, split between time in Vancouver and Seattle.
Despite minimal NHL scoring this year, Sprong has shown flashed of bringing his hot touch to the NHL. He scored 21 goals and 46 points with the Kraken in the 2022-23 season, then followed it with 18 goals and 43 points in 76 games with Detroit last year. The pair of seasons seemed to finally push Sprong onto the track of strong goal-scoring – and Vancouver took the upside bet by signing him to a one-year contract last summer.
Sprong didn’t find his spark in Vancouver, or in a return to Seattle – but he could find it as the New Jersey Devils search for more scoring options. The Devils rank 14th in the league with 2.98 goals-per-game on average, a step above both Vancouver (26th, 2.74) and Seattle (16th, 2.94). That could set Sprong up for a more welcome committee as he takes on the remaining season on a playoff contender. Sprong should step in as a depth-winger for the Devils lineup – and his ice time could be largely dependent on how well he’s able to rediscover his scoring.
He’s as offensively skilled as some of the best players in the league. Has close to zero defensive prowess . In the right system he could fit in.
In a week of insane overpays, a guy who’s 27 and has *averaged* 20 goals per 82 games for his career going for a 7th rounder is nuts. Unless Francis was determined to see the back of the guy no matter what, he really booted it here.
He may have scored in the past but he wasn’t scoring now and he was going to be UFA, might as well get something for him.
There’s a reason he had to settle for a low money deal with Vancouver and then he was basically given back to Seattle for nothing. Oh and he’s been in Coachella for awhile. Love Sprong, but yeah gotta leave with something for him.
Spring has sprung for Sprong.