Daniel Sprong Bio
Daniel Sprong is a Dutch professional ice hockey right winger for HC CSKA Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Born on March 17, 1997, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sprong relocated with his family to Canada in 2005 to pursue his hockey development and emerged as a high-end junior scorer before being selected 46th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sprong has played across North America’s junior and professional ranks and has spent time with multiple NHL organizations before signing in Russia for the 2025–26 season. He is a right-shot forward known for his offensive instincts and goal-scoring ability developed through his years in the Quebec junior system and the QMJHL.
Early Life and Background
Daniel Sprong was born in Amsterdam and grew up in a family with hockey experience; his father, Hannie Sprong, played professionally in the Netherlands and later worked in team management. Recognizing a limited development pathway for high-level hockey in the Netherlands, the Sprong family moved to Île Bizard, Quebec, in 2005 when Daniel was eight to advance his training and access stronger competition.
In Quebec, Sprong skated in local minor programs and competed in notable youth events, including the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament in 2008 and 2009. Living near Montreal allowed him to develop against older and physically advanced peers from an early age, accelerating his technical and competitive growth.
Path to Hockey
Sprong’s early development included time with the Lac St-Louis Tigres and a Pennsylvania-based travelling team, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights. As a non-citizen youth player in Quebec he competed in the Midget Espoir AA tier, where he established himself as a prolific scorer, setting a league scoring mark with 104 points in 30 games for Lac St-Louis.
His junior performance drew attention from major junior clubs and NHL scouts. Selected thirteenth overall by the Charlottetown Islanders in the 2013 QMJHL draft, Sprong immediately made an impact at the major-junior level and set the stage for his selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. His strong junior seasons, including leading the Islanders in scoring and earning QMJHL All-Rookie recognition, were central to his rapid rise.
Daniel Sprong Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Sprong joined the Charlottetown Islanders for the 2013–14 season and led the club in scoring with 68 points in 67 games, earning a spot on the 2013–14 QMJHL All-Rookie Team. He followed with an 88-point season in 2014–15, finishing among the top scorers in the QMJHL and receiving an invitation to the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
After his standout junior seasons, Sprong was listed highly on NHL Central Scouting’s North American skater rankings and was selected in the second round, 46th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. His junior success established him as a skilled offensive forward with a quick release and natural scoring touch.
QMJHL Breakthrough (2013–2015)
During his tenure with the Charlottetown Islanders, Sprong consistently paced his team in offense and finished his junior career with top ranks in team goal and point totals. He recorded strong playoff performances for Charlottetown, including leading the team in postseason scoring in later years, and left the franchise with some of the highest career goal and point totals in team history.
Sprong’s production in the QMJHL helped cement his status as an NHL prospect. He demonstrated the ability to produce at high rates across a full season and in playoff scenarios, traits that attracted NHL organizations seeking a dynamic offensive winger.
NHL Breakthrough (2015–2025)
After signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on August 28, 2015, Sprong made the Penguins’ opening roster for the 2015–16 season, becoming one of the few second-round-or-later selections to make an immediate jump to the NHL roster. He made his NHL debut on October 8, 2015, and scored his first NHL goal on October 15, 2015.
Sprong split time between the NHL and junior levels in his early professional years, appearing in 18 games with Pittsburgh before returning to Charlottetown for further development. He later spent time with Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate and continued to progress as a professional player.
On December 3, 2018, Sprong was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, where he posted new NHL career highs in the 2018–19 season, scoring 14 goals and totaling 19 points in 47 games. He spent time between the NHL and AHL in Anaheim, continuing to refine his two-way game when asked.
Sprong was traded to the Washington Capitals on February 24, 2020, and subsequently signed a two-year contract extension on September 18, 2020. He was part of the trade to the Seattle Kraken on March 21, 2022, and later returned to the Kraken organization on a one-year two-way contract after attending training camp on a professional tryout in 2022, producing a career-high 46 points in 66 games with Seattle.
On July 1, 2023, Sprong signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings and recorded 18 goals and 25 assists for 43 points in 76 games. He signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks for the 2024–25 season and later returned briefly to the Seattle Kraken before being placed on waivers and assigned to the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Kraken’s AHL affiliate, in January 2025. After producing significant offense in the AHL, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils at the 2025 NHL trade deadline.
HC CSKA Moscow Era (2025–Present)
Following the 2024–25 North American season and his trade to New Jersey, Sprong signed a one-year contract with HC CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League for the 2025–26 season. The move represented Sprong’s first full-season contract in the KHL and a new chapter in his professional career overseas.
The CSKA Moscow signing is a notable shift after a decade of play in North American pro hockey; the contract runs through 2026. It also aligns with Sprong’s pattern of adapting to new teams and roles while offering an opportunity to play a top-six offensive role within a leading KHL organization.
Playing Style and Strengths
Sprong is known for a fast release and goal-scoring instincts as a right-shot winger. He combines quick puck movement with a knack for finding open ice in the slot and finishing scoring chances. Coaches have tasked him with improving his defensive play and physical consistency, and he has shown the ability to adapt to roles that emphasize both offense and responsible two-way play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Sprong’s career include making the Pittsburgh Penguins opening-night roster immediately after being drafted in 2015, scoring his first NHL goal less than a week after his debut, and posting a personal-best 46-point NHL season with the Seattle Kraken. His junior records with the Charlottetown Islanders also stand out among his early achievements.
Daniel Sprong Career Wins
Sprong’s career highlights center on individual scoring achievements across junior and professional levels rather than single-game win totals. His junior scoring records, first NHL goals and multi-season NHL scoring outputs constitute the primary markers of his on-ice success.
QMJHL Highlights
In the QMJHL with the Charlottetown Islanders Sprong led the team in scoring in multiple seasons, posted individual totals of 68 and 88 points in successive campaigns, and finished his junior career among the franchise leaders in goals and points. He earned a place on the QMJHL All-Rookie Team following his first major-junior season.
NHL Highlights
Sprong’s NHL highlights include scoring his first NHL goal on October 15, 2015, reaching new career highs in goals and points with the Anaheim Ducks in 2018–19, and recording a career-high 46 points in 66 games while with the Seattle Kraken. He also produced 43 points with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2023–24 season.
Other Wins & Perfromances
At the AHL level Sprong contributed offensively during playoff runs and regular-season assignments, and he displayed strong scoring in the Coachella Valley Firebirds assignment during the 2024–25 season. His junior postseason production for Charlottetown included significant point totals that helped the team in deep playoff runs.
Daniel Sprong Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Sprong’s father, Hannie, played professional hockey in the Netherlands and later worked in team management, providing a familial hockey background that influenced Daniel’s development. The family’s decision to relocate to Canada was driven by a desire to place Daniel in a stronger hockey environment.
Personal Life
The Sprong family settled in Île Bizard, Quebec, where Daniel was raised after the move from Amsterdam. He has remained a Dutch citizen and has been a Canadian permanent resident while pursuing professional opportunities across North America and into the KHL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season was a transitional year for Sprong. He began the campaign with the Vancouver Canucks, appearing in a limited role during early-season games, and was traded back to the Seattle Kraken in November 2024. After clearing waivers in January 2025 he joined the Coachella Valley Firebirds and produced notable offensive numbers in the AHL. Sprong’s play earned him a trade to the New Jersey Devils at the NHL deadline in March 2025.
Following the conclusion of the 2024–25 North American season Sprong opted to sign with HC CSKA Moscow for 2025–26, starting a new phase in the KHL. The move offers Sprong a chance to assume a prominent offensive role and to build a consistent platform for his game in a top European league.