Steve Yzerman, general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, is experienced with the free agency process. He has been quite busy over the past two summers rearranging the roster for a team that hasn’t qualified for the postseason since the 2015–16 campaign. J.T. Compher, Shayne Gostisbehere, Justin Holl, Alex Lyon, James Reimer, Christian Fischer, and Daniel Sprong were added this past July. The addition of Patrick Kane to the roster this season makes it abundantly evident that the legendary Red Wings player is not scared to take risks in an effort to elevate this Original Six team.
Although Detroit is currently holding down the second wild-card place in the Eastern Conference, a tight competition that might go down to the last week of the season has five teams within six points of that final playoff berth. The upcoming weeks hold great promise for this once-proud team as the trade deadline of March 8th draws near. But there’s no denying that under Yzerman’s direction, the team’s play has significantly improved; with 3.45 goals per game (GF/G), they are currently ranked sixth in the league. This has been a pleasant surprise for a club that has had trouble scoring goals in recent seasons. All of his recent acquisitions, with the exception of Compher and Andrew Copp, have been on short-term contracts.
The Red Wings have one of the top-ranked prospect pools in all of hockey, but Yzerman has preached patience when it comes to drafting and developing their high-end draft picks. He doesn’t want to give out term with so many kids waiting in the – no pun intended – wings. But some of these short-term additions, most notably Sprong, have exceeded expectations and will likely force Yzerman to make some difficult decisions this upcoming offseason. The eight-year veteran has been everything and more for Detroit, registering 14 goals and 20 assists in 53 games while on pace to surpass his career-high in points (46). On a one-year deal at $2 million, Sprong has been an absolute steal for this contending team. The Red Wings should consider signing him to a multi-year deal once his current contract expires. At 26 years old, he fits the team’s timeline to compete and is the type of third-line grinder that brings valuable depth scoring to the table.
Sprong is never going to be the biggest player on the ice at 6-foot-1 and 194 pounds, but he plays much bigger than his stature suggests. He can shoot the puck from any spot on the ice and has a flair for scoring goals. In just 66 games with the Seattle Krakken last season, he managed to record 21 goals and 46 points while only averaging 11:25 of ice time (TOI). With Detroit this season, he is averaging 12:46 (TOI) and still finds the back of the net in a limited capacity. A larger sample size is desired by many observers and fans, who also want to see what he can accomplish in top-six role-playing, possibly alongside Kane and Compher. Okay, so maybe I’m the only one, but
A Young Veteran
Detroit is now the fifth team that Sprong has laced them up for during his eight-year career, which does raise some flags for this writer. Why have so many teams given up on him? Or better yet, why has no one given him more minutes? I’ve never heard of any off-ice issues with Sprong, so there has to be some sort of explanation. If he flourishes in a secondary role, he may struggle in a top-six one, but I don’t think that’s the case, as you have to be talented to score 20 or more goals in this league. Is it opportunity? That’s where I’m heading as the Red Wings make a playoff push heading into March.
Detroit has struggled to keep their top lines together this season – through injuries and suspensions, head coach Derek Lalonde has been forced to juggle the lineup card more times than not. Adding Kane has only complicated the situation as the Red Wings try to find some consistency in their top six. Why not give Sprong a regular spot in that role and see what he does with it? I’d love to see a line of Kane, Compher and Sprong. He currently ranks third on the team in goals (14) and fourth in points (34). If that’s not a case for an extended audition, I don’t know what is. Let him eat.
Pen to Paper
The next few weeks are pivotal for the Red Wings as they continue to search for an identity leading up to the trade deadline. Yzerman will be forced to make some harsh decisions if the team struggles during that stretch. Teams will definitely be interested in Sprong for his solid scoring depth. With his low cap hit, he’d be a steal for another team looking to add to their top nine for the playoff stretch. Yzerman is hoping he’s already on that team.
What might Sprong’s new deal look like? The 26-year-old could be interested in a two- to three-year contract at $2.5 million a year, but given that he is on track to set a career-high this season, it may not go through. Yzerman, who dislikes to give terms, as was previously indicated, will be busy this summer trying to sign Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider to long-term contracts. Kane’s future should soon be decided, and Michael Rasmussen, who becomes a restricted free agent this offseason, will also be searching for a new contract. This is a crucial moment in the season, and how this developing club performs over the next three weeks may determine if they
