Daniel Sprong has returned to the Seattle Kraken after spending the first part of the season with the Vancouver Canucks.
The 27-year-old forward marked his return with a goal in a game against the Nashville Predators on November 20. “It felt like old times,” Sprong said about his first goal back with the Kraken. “Great pass from Chandler, and I thought as a line we were getting better and better as the game went on. I was happy we could get one for the team.”
The Kraken re-acquired Sprong in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on November 8. He had previously played with the Kraken during the end of the 2021-22 season and all of the 2022-23 season before moving on to Detroit.
Sprong quickly settled back into the team, describing his return as almost destined. He had been disappointed to leave Seattle in search of compensation after the 2023 season, so it felt right to be traded back. “It’s nice to be back, and it’s a place I never really wanted to leave, but as the business goes, it happened,” Sprong said. “The hockey world is small, so I’m happy to be back, and I’m comfortable here.”
After dealing with a delay in his work visa, Sprong rejoined the Kraken on November 16 to face the New York Islanders.
Despite a new head coach in Dan Bylsma, Sprong feels right at home within the Kraken organization. He credits his close friends—Brandon Tanev, Andre Burakovsky, and Vince Dunn—with making him feel welcome. “It’s a place I feel really comfortable,” Sprong said. “I can be myself. They know my game. They know what kind of person I am. I just feel like I really fit in well here with the group of guys and the organization, and I’m really happy.”
The most satisfying part of his return is seeing the Kraken fans get excited. “Of course, the fans are great,” Sprong said. “I still have the memory of us beating Colorado in that overtime win here at home when Ebs scored and the crowd went wild.”
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