Confirmed with Link: [VAN/SEA] Daniel Sprong to Seattle for Future Considerations

MS

1%er
Mar 18, 2002
55,867
92,291
Vancouver, BC
I didn’t except people freaking about a sprong trade. Rather have the cap space and roster space

Yeah, I mean, he's had a couple decent games and a couple crappy ones but if they want to go a different direction with their 13th forward ... fair enough. It's not something I'm going to get really upset about one way or another. We had nothing invested in this player and he really didn't do much of anything here.
 

tyhee

Registered User
Feb 5, 2015
2,668
2,816
The timing is a little surprising, but it isn't really surprising that a move of this sort was made. I'd have expected them to wait another game or 2, though.

If Boeser and Joshua can both play then we've got, at forward (putting Joshua down the lineup to ease him in, though the lines will undoubtedly get changed):

DeBrusk-Miller-Boeser
Suter-Pettersson-Garland
Heinen-Blueger-Sherwood
Joshua-Raty-Hoglander

Bains and Aman, both of whom have some trust from Tocchet, are available for the 13th forward spot and in case of further injury they could go down the depth chart a bit further to PDG (if and when he is healthy), Karlsson, Sasson or, if they think he is ready or it best for his development, Lekkerimaki. All of them carry a cap hit lower than Sprong. The Canucks were at 48 of 50 active contracts (plus two sliding that won't count) so they gain a little cap space, a roster spot for flexibility for future moves and room to play younger players that may be deemed ready to play.

The only puzzling thing to me is the timing, in that it reduces the organizational depth at a time when Boeser could be out and Joshua isn't back yet. It wouldn't be surprising if, as some have been suggesting, there is another move in the works.
 

The Stig

Rest In Peace Johnny Gaudreau
Feb 14, 2013
15,664
3,864
Maple Ridge B.C.
I'm going to wait and see if there's a follow up move before really judging this move. Allvins track record so far has shown that there's something more at play here than just moving a player for the hell of it.
 
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VanJack

Registered User
Jul 11, 2014
22,642
16,129
Not surprised from the Kraken's standpoint. They're simply dying on the vine for scoring right now. And Sprong had a big year with Seattle in 2022-23 with 23 goals and 46 points in 60 games.

Clearly Allvin isn't afraid of trading guys to division rivals, with Sprong in Seattle; Kuzmenko in Calgary; and Podkolzin in Edmonton. He's got supreme confidence I guess in his player assessment abilities.

What it also says to me is that the Canucks feel they've got kids in Abbotsford who are really 'close' and a guy like Sprong on a one-year contract was only getting in the way. They probably thought they'd lose him on waivers anyway, so they got something for him.
 

Jyrki

Benning has been purged! VANmen!
May 24, 2011
13,614
2,918
溫哥華
Not too upset about the trade but with Boeser out for a while potentially it doesn't seem great to be forced to play Bains or reach out to the farm. Injuries rack up either way and forward depth has been a big strength for us early in the season so without a followup move the trade seems strange.
 
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Vector

Moderator
Feb 2, 2007
27,641
46,932
Junktown
Cap scenarios after the Sprong trade.

1) Activate Joshua : 2.15m cap space
2) Call-Up Bains: 1.34m cap space
3) Call-Up Lekkerimaki: 1.23m cap space
4) Call-Up Bains & Lekkerimaki: 0.42m cap space

A lot rides on the status of Joshua and Boeser. Seems very strange to make this trade if they expect both to be out tomorrow.
 

Rotang

Registered User
Sep 30, 2005
2,526
389
Dallas, TX
I wouldn’t classify most of these reactions as freaking out, but I am disappointed that the Sprong experiment ended so quickly and that he was given so little rope by Tocchet. Especially considering that most of the team struggled with defensive assignments through the first 8-10 games.

Maybe I’m placing too much emphasis on his preseason highlight reel goal but imo he looked dangerous off the rush consistently enough given his minutes that he deserved a longer look, especially with Boeser potentially out for an extended period.
 

Wisp

Registered User
Nov 14, 2010
7,633
2,212
I don't think it was anything Sprong was doing wrong.

Remember, the player took less to come here in the moment with the goal of setting himself up for a better free agency next year. The Canucks pitched him on that, and as the line up was solidifying, Sprong was becoming an awkward and redundant fit.

The Canucks were probably realized they were not close to fulfilling that UFA pitch and did him a solid for the player sending him to Seattle, a team where Sprong has had success in the past.
 

Johnny Canucker

Registered User
Jan 4, 2009
17,922
6,326
There was attitude questions when we signed him and I remember in an interview Tocch said he called him before he signed to talk to him etc.
 

iRageWin

Registered User
Aug 7, 2014
41
68
Not surprised from the Kraken's standpoint. They're simply dying on the vine for scoring right now. And Sprong had a big year with Seattle in 2022-23 with 23 goals and 46 points in 60 games.

Clearly Allvin isn't afraid of trading guys to division rivals, with Sprong in Seattle; Kuzmenko in Calgary; and Podkolzin in Edmonton. He's got supreme confidence I guess in his player assessment abilities.

What it also says to me is that the Canucks feel they've got kids in Abbotsford who are really 'close' and a guy like Sprong on a one-year contract was only getting in the way. They probably thought they'd lose him on waivers anyway, so they got something for him.
Uh yea they sure got something for him, I hear Future Considerations is a really good player.

Tbh I think they wanted a contract slot back for an upcoming move and they were actually more worried about nobody claiming him on waivers + doing Sprong a solid by letting him pick where to go
 
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Judge

Registered User
May 23, 2023
3
9
The Maritimes
I honestly think I started this account years ago to warn Ducks fans about this guy

Stunned that no one has caught on yet

He's a beyond unbearable teammate. Horrible person to around

Stunned that any team even signs him in the first place. Shows how much hockey is run by dinosaurs and people who don't understand you need to build a cohesive locker room

Not even worth attempting to recoup an asset on him. Just an all around waste of talent
 

VanJack

Registered User
Jul 11, 2014
22,642
16,129
I wouldn’t classify most of these reactions as freaking out, but I am disappointed that the Sprong experiment ended so quickly and that he was given so little rope by Tocchet. Especially considering that most of the team struggled with defensive assignments through the first 8-10 games.

Maybe I’m placing too much emphasis on his preseason highlight reel goal but imo he looked dangerous off the rush consistently enough given his minutes that he deserved a longer look, especially with Boeser potentially out for an extended period.
Sprong was in a third-fourth line role in Vancouver. If you're going to be a depth forward in Tocchet's system, then you have to be a superior defensive forward, it's that simple.

I think the Canucks coaching staff tried working with him to improve him as a defensive player. But clearly it wasn't taking. A guy like Bains isn't as fast, but he's a far better defensive player and therefore a better fit.

It was an honest attempt by the Canucks to improve their depth scoring when they signed Sprong. But there's a reason why he's now on his seventh NHL organization in seven seasons.
 

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