The Vancouver Canucks have interest in free agent forward Daniel Sprong, according to Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali — The Team.
Sprong, 27, is coming off a bit of a down year with the Detroit Red Wings, who signed him to a one-year “show me” contract worth $2 million following his career year with the Seattle Kraken.
Sprong being linked to the Canucks should come with little surprise, as he was drafted by the Jim Rutherford-led Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015. In our “Can the Canucks find the next Pius Suter” article from earlier this week, we identified Sprong as a potential target for the Canucks. Here’s what we wrote:
The first name that stands out when you look at free agents still on the board is without a doubt Daniel Sprong. The 27-year-old is a former Penguin, meaning he should probably the favourite on this list for the Canucks to sign.
Sprong scored 18 goals with the Detroit Red Wings last season, adding 25 assists in 76 games played. The season before that, however, was a career year for Sprong, as he tallied 21 goals and 25 assists through 66 games with the Seattle Kraken. That career year and decent scoring likely leave Sprong looking for a “show-me” deal, and he could certainly build his value out in Vancouver.
A right-shot winger, Sprong is below-average defensively but puts up solid results offensively at even strength. The Canucks have a valid roster at the time of this writing, but Sprong would be an upgrade on at least a couple of players currently projected to be in the club’s opening night lineup and could be a candidate to play top six minutes (would you expect anything less from someone who could be the next Pius Suter?)
Sprong didn’t do himself many favours with his year in Detroit and is likely looking at another one or two-year contract with a relatively low cap hit in a place he can prove his worth. That being said, his 18 goals — 15 of which came at even strength — and 25 assists are nothing to scoff at, either.
Would you like to see the Canucks sign Daniel Sprong? Let us know in the comments section below!
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