Former Red Wings Misses Would-Be Reunion in Minors

Last night could have been a reunion or perhaps even a revenge game for Daniel Sprong.  Instead of visiting Detroit as a member of the Seattle Kraken, however, the Amsterdam-born sniper was on the opposite side of the country, scoring in the AHL Coachella Valley Firebirds' 5–2 win over the Chicago Wolves.

A year ago, Sprong was part of a unique fourth line for the Red Wings, which was geared more toward scoring than possession play or defense.  He netted 18 goals along, while giving 28 assists, for 43 points in 76 games.  It was impressive production considering his limited role.  And yet, Sprong's lack of attention to defensive detail eroded the coaching staff's trust in him, and his minutes dwindled as the season progressed, including a run of healthy scratches during the campaign's most pivotal moments.

Though the one-year partnership between Sprong and Detroit was not devoid of high points, it was clear by season's end that the marriage had run its course.  Sprong officially hit unrestricted free agency on July 1st but didn't find a team interested in his services until the Vancouver Canucks signed him to a one-year deal (at more than a 50% pay cut from his year with the Red Wings) on July 20th.  Nine games into his tenure in Vancouver, Canucks brass arrived at the same conclusion the Red Wings' had: what Sprong offered in offense didn't overcome what he lacked in defense.  Vancouver dealt Sprong (who had just a goal and two assists) to Seattle, where he had enjoyed the most productive season of his career in 2022–23 (21 goals and 25 assists for 46 points).

Related: Sprong Trade Affirms Red Wings' Conclusion

10 games into that experiment at reunion (during which the Dutch sniper had just one goal and one assist), the Kraken sent Sprong down to their AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley last week, where has played his last two games.  While his Kraken teammates were taking on his former Red Wings last night in Detroit, Sprong was netting his third goal in two games for the Firebirds, prompting Daily Faceoff's Jeff Marek (a long-time vocal Sprong defender) to quip that the AHL looked like beer league for a sniper of his pedigree.

Sprong himself was quoted as saying, "I want to prove that I don't belong here" following his AHL debut (in which he'd scored twice and given an assist), adding that he believes he was "too many steps ahead" of the competition when he stepped on the ice, requiring him to "slow it down mentally and get on that speed."

It will be interesting to see whether Seattle elects to let him continue lighting up the AHL or decides his firepower is worth what he lacks in the defensive zone.  For the time being, Sprong's lot is a beer league life in Coachella Valley, to borrow Marek's phrase.

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