If Daniel Sprong was flying beneath the radar with Vancouver Canucks followers, he wasn’t anymore.
Sprong doubtless didn’t get the free agent payday he hoped for this summer time when he settled for a one-year contract value $975,000. He was coming off a 43-point season (18-25-43) with the Detroit Crimson Wings and had 46 factors (21-25-46) in 66 video games with the Seattle Kraken in 2022-23.
The knock on the 27-year-old is his defensive play, which nonetheless wants enhancing.
However his talent? Effectively, that was on show Wednesday night time in Abbotsford after he scored essentially the most spectacular aim of the preseason.
With 20 seconds left within the third interval and the Canucks down a aim, Sprong picked up the puck at his personal blue line and dashed by way of the Flames’ defence earlier than pulling off a deke to the forehand to tie the sport.
Oh my, Daniel Sprong 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/VTn52vspKT
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 26, 2024
Teammate Jake DeBrusk was impressed.
“Only a nice particular person effort. He’s received arms, pace, and that deadly shot everybody talks about, however there he form of used all of them,” stated DeBrusk, who had two objectives within the sport. “It was a cool aim to see; you don’t actually see spotlight objectives generally in preseason.”
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet hasn’t solidified his strains but and it appears unlikely that any of the 4 trios he rolled out on Wednesday will probably be seen within the common season.
Living proof, Sprong performed on a line with Aatu Räty and Arshdeep Bains, two forwards prone to begin the season in Abbotsford.
It’ll be fascinating to see the place Sprong slots in for opening night time as a result of his stat-line suggests he could be a top-six ahead.
Maybe he’ll be a match with on the suitable wing with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk. To do this, he’ll doubtless should show to Tocchet that his two-way sport is as much as par. Judging by Tocchet’s post-game feedback, that’s nonetheless a piece in progress.
“He’s received that knack to do this kind of stuff. He can skate,” Tocchet stated of Sprong’s preseason heroics. “We are able to work with him to essentially make him full, however yeah that was a hell of a aim. We all know he can try this.”
If Sprong doesn’t match with Pettersson and DeBrusk, Tocchet could contemplate an offensive-minded third line that may capitalize on comfortable minutes. Pius Suter might be a great match at centre for that form of function, and there are a selection of left winger choices, relying on how the opposite strains shake out, although Conor Garland, Danton Heinen, and Nils Höglander come to thoughts.
Actually, Tocchet has choices.