Goal scoring forward involved in surprising trade and he's heading to an NHL expansion team

Daniel Sprong is returning to the Seattle Kraken. The Vancouver Canucks have traded the winger to Seattle for future considerations, reuniting him with the team where he enjoyed one of his best seasons.

Sprong had a breakout year with the Kraken in 2022-23, scoring 21 goals and 25 assists over 66 games, which was well beyond his previous career-high of 23 points. Despite his impressive season, Seattle chose not to tender him an offer that summer, likely to avoid a potential arbitration process.

Sprong, then a free agent, landed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings, where he continued to perform, putting up 18 goals and 25 assists over 76 games. Even so, Detroit opted not to extend him to avoid arbitration as well.

In the 2023 offseason, Sprong faced a cooler free agency market. After nearly three weeks, he signed a one-year, $975,000 deal with the Vancouver Canucks, which marked a notable pay cut from the previous season.

Sprong's career has been marked by consistent production but limited stability. Moving back to the Kraken gives him a fresh start in a place where he's had success before.

Will watch he recapture the spark from his breakout season with Seattle before?