Daniel Sprong鈥檚 road through the NHL has been a winding one.
After signing a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks, the 27-year-old scoring winger is looking to make his latest destination more than a pit stop.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping Vancouver鈥檚 not just one year,鈥� Sprong said in a video call Monday. 鈥淚 can see myself being there long term and that鈥檚 really what excited me.鈥�
The Canucks did not release the value of the contract, but multiple reports have pegged it at US$975,000.
Vancouver will be the sixth NHL team Sprong has played for since he was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015.
The six-foot, 195-pound forward registered 18 goals and 25 assists in 76 appearances for the Detroit Red Wings last season. He鈥檚 also had stints with the Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals and Seattle Kraken.
Heading into free agency this summer, he felt confident.
Sprong admitted he was surprised when the market opened on July 1 and the right offer didn鈥檛 surface.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of a wake-up call, but at the same time, I think it鈥檚 also good motivation and kind of put some fuel to the fire,鈥� he said.
Eventually, Vancouver made its bid and a phone call with Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet sealed the deal.
鈥淭here were other teams but I felt the most comfortable and happiest with Vancouver when I talked on the phone and that made my decision very easy at the end,鈥� he said.
Tocchet, who won the Jack Adams award as the league鈥檚 top coach last season, has history with Sprong, having worked with him as an assistant bench boss in Pittsburgh.
Sprong鈥檚 also familiar with Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin, both of whom were in the Penguins鈥� front office when he was drafted.
鈥淭hey drafted me, they鈥檝e believed in me from the second I got drafted,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 think since then, I鈥檝e matured a lot, I think my game has developed. There鈥檚 still a part of my game that I want to fix. We talked about that on the phone, how we鈥檙e going to work on it, improve in that area. And that鈥檚 only going to lead to bigger opportunity and, hopefully, more success for the team and myself.鈥�
Born in Amsterdam, Sprong and his family moved to Montreal when he was seven so he could have more opportunities in hockey. He was a standout for the QMJHL鈥檚 Charlottetown Islanders, leading the team with 88 regular-season points and another 11 in playoffs.
The jump to pro hockey hasn鈥檛 always been easy.
While he鈥檚 contributed 85 goals and 74 assists over 344 regular-season NHL games, Sprong has averaged 11:57 in ice time.
A lack of situational trust from coaches may have impacted how he has been used in the past, the winger said, noting that his defensive game hasn鈥檛 always been strong.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to work on it in Vancouver to gain the trust and be reliable in those situations,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 working on it over the summertime to work on those details.鈥�
Sprong鈥檚 scoring touch will complement a Canucks offence that already boasts the likes of centre J.T. Miller, who finished last season with 103 points, and right-winger Brock Boeser, who registered 40 goals.
In addition to working on his defensive game, Sprong said he鈥檒l be sharpening his shot this summer to keep up his offensive output.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 not just working on your weaknesses, it鈥檚 working on your strengths so you keep evolving as a player. And I think over time I鈥檝e done that,鈥� he said.
鈥淎nd there鈥檚 still things I want to fix. And I think if I fix those things, there鈥檚 only positives and better outcomes.鈥�
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