LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: Daniel Sprong #91 of the Seattle Kraken in the first period at Crypto.com Arena on March 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Kraken Bring Back Daniel Sprong on PTO
The Seattle Kraken have signed unrestricted free agent forward Daniel Sprong to a professional tryout.
Sprong returns to the team he spent the latter portion of the 2021-22 season with after being traded at the deadline. Sprong contributed six goals in 16 games with Seattle a year ago and had a minus-6 rating. In 47 games before being dealt, he scored 8 goals and 14 points and had a plus-6 rating with the Washington Capitals. In 89 total games with the Caps across two seasons, Sprong contributed 21 goals, 34 points, and a plus-13 rating.
The 25-year-old is entering his seventh NHL season after being drafted 46th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The second-round pick has played for a total of four NHL franchises, the others being the Anaheim Ducks and his draft team, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sprong had his best statistical season during 2021-22, despite being split between two franchises. He totaled 63 games played on the season, combining for a career-high 14 goals and tying a career-best with 20 points.
Fit Among the Kraken
Sprong joins a crowded forward group, especially if rookies Matty Beniers and Shane Wright start the season in the NHL. If he earns himself a contract, Sprong will be competing with the likes of John Hayden, Karson Kuhlman, and Kole Lind for playing time among the bottom-six.
Seattle drastically improved its forward group this offseason, drafting Wright, signing Stanley Cup Champion Andre Burakovsky, and trading for winger Oliver Bjorkstrand. These additions should help the Kraken build on its 28th-ranked offense from last season. Even if Wright doesn’t remain with the team for his presumed rookie year, the team should improve on last season’s 2.6 goals per game.
The Kraken will play their first preseason game on Monday against the Edmonton Oilers, giving Sprong his first opportunity to impress. If he makes the cut, expect the Norwegian winger to make a serious push to carve out a role among familiar faces in his first full season in Seattle.
