Daniel Sprong Clears Waivers

Daniel Sprong has officially cleared waivers, according to reports from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The 27-year-old winger must now be assigned to the AHL's Coachella Valley within the next 30 days before facing waivers again.

The move comes after the Seattle Kraken placed Sprong on waivers on January 8, intending to send him down to their AHL affiliate. Acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in November for future considerations, the Kraken had high hopes for Sprong, particularly in light of his impressive performance two seasons ago when he racked up a career-best 21 goals and 46 points in just 66 games. Unfortunately, his production hasn't matched those expectations this time around.

This season has been rocky for Sprong, especially following a tumultuous summer. Despite posting a solid 43 points in 76 games for the Detroit Red Wings last season, the team chose not to qualify him, making him an unrestricted free agent. After an unexpected wait of nearly three weeks, he signed a one-year, $975K deal with the Canucks.

In Vancouver, Sprong was initially anticipated to provide depth in the top nine, possibly playing alongside star player Elias Pettersson. However, that didn't pan out, and he shifted between lines with players like Pius Suter and Aatu Räty. In just nine games with the Canucks, Sprong notched three points before being traded back to Seattle.

Back in familiar territory, one would expect Sprong to receive more ice time, especially with his previous success there. However, under new head coach Dan Bylsma, he has seen limited action, sitting out for the majority of his second tenure with the Kraken. In the 10 games since his return, he has tallied just one goal and one assist, with considerable time spent in the press box.

The situation has become even more challenging for Sprong since the Kraken acquired winger Kaapo Kakko from the New York Rangers. With Sprong now riding the bench for several consecutive games, he finds himself behind both Kakko and depth players like Tye Kartye on the depth chart. His struggles to play a center position further complicate his chances, particularly with the team missing Yanni Gourde due to injury.

Despite a lackluster season yielding only five points in 19 games overall, Sprong’s proven track record as a depth scorer could make him an attractive option for other teams looking for offensive support. His previous seasons have shown that he can produce effectively even with limited playing time, amassing 39 goals and 89 points in 142 games between Seattle and Detroit—a commendable 0.63 points per game.

As the deadline for his assignment looms, the question remains: will the Kraken utilize Sprong effectively, or will they take the chance to expose him again? In the high-stakes world of professional hockey, anything can happen, and Sprong’s future remains uncertain but filled with potential. Stay tuned!