Former Seattle Kraken forward Daniel Sprong has signed a contract with KHL club CSKA Moscow.
Sprong's tenure with the Kraken was split into two, the first being a success where he set a career-high in goals (21) and points (46) in just 66 games. He leveraged his successful stint with the Kraken into a contract with the Detroit Red Wings, where he once again excelled. Upon conclusion of his one-year deal, he moved on, signing with the Vancouver Canucks, but he was unable to find the same success.
After just nine games with the Canucks, he was traded back to the Kraken, but failed to regain his form, scoring a goal and an assist in 10 games. He was placed on waivers and spent the next 19 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds before he was dealt again at the deadline, this time to the New Jersey Devils.
The shortcomings continued, and he found himself in the press box during the playoffs for all but one game, signalling that it might be in his best interest to move away from the NHL.
The move to join CSKA Moscow is exactly that, signing his first European contract.
Sprong is joining a CSKA Moscow team that is looking to revamp its roster after what it considers a disappointing season. The historic Russian club finished fifth in the Western Conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Looking to bolster their roster, CSKA Moscow has signed Sprong, Nikolai Kovalenko, Rhett Gardiner, Denis Zerov and goaltender Spencer Martin this month, with Egor Sokolov being signed and traded away in the process. Additionally, the team has ex-NHLers Denis Guryanov, Nikita Nesterov, Nikita Okhotyuk, and Vladislav Kamenev under contract for the 2025-26 season.
A once-promising young, skilled winger has watched his NHL career slip away from him in the last year, but a successful stint in the KHL could earn his way back into the NHL, like many have done before him.
Flashback Friday: Where Are They Now? Alexander WennbergDrafted in the first round (14th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Alexander Wennberg joined the Seattle Kraken as an unrestricted free agent on July 28th, 2021 after six seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and a single season with the Florida Panthers.
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