Not much is happening in the NHL at this stage in the offseason, but there’s always a loud move lurking. Now, a former teammate of both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin has taken an unexpected turn in his career.
Playing alongside the two greatest NHL players of the 21st century is a feat reserved for only a select few. Daniel Sprong is among them. The 28-year-old winger has played in seven different teams, but he’s mostly remembered for joining both ‘Sid the Kid’ and ‘The Great 8’ on the ice.
After a turbulent 2024-25 NHL season, Sprong has set his sights in a new beginning away from Crosby, Ovechkin, and the league. As announced, the Swedish forward has signed with CSKA Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Sprong had never played in Europe—or overseas, for that matter— throughout his professional career. After testing the market as an unrestricted free agent, he opted to cross the Atlantic and head to the Motherland.
Daniel Sprong #91 of the Seattle Kraken warms up before the game against the New York Islanders at Climate Pledge Arena on November 16, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.
New deal
“Unrestricted free agent forward Daniel Sprong has signed a one-year contract with CSKA Moscow on the KHL,” as reported by TSN. “The 6-foot winger is coming off a one-year, $975,000 contract.” Details of his new deal in Russia’s capital city haven’t been disclosed.
see also
NHL News: Amid interest in star defenseman, Sidney Crosby’s Penguins are reportedly doing no suitor any favors
Journeyman
Sprong has called seven different NHL cities home. Initially drafted by Crosby’s Penguins in 2015, he was part of the Stanley Cup-winning roster in 2016. However, his name isn’t engraved on the Cup, as he didn’t play in 41 regular-season games or appear in any game of the Final.
SurveyCould Sprong's signing in the KHL affect Ovechkin's chances of returning to Russia after the 2025-26 NHL season?
Could Sprong's signing in the KHL affect Ovechkin's chances of returning to Russia after the 2025-26 NHL season?
already voted 0 people
Since then, he has played for the Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks, and New Jersey Devils. He played for the last three during the past NHL season alone. After such a whirlwind of constant shifting, Sprong decided to walk away from the league and head to the Old World.
