Detroit Red Wings UFA Daniel Sprong may be the most intriguing player remaining from the NHL's recent free agent rush.
Sprong, 27, has 39 goals over the past two seasons, including 18 with Detroit in 2023-24. That's impressive for a player who averaged fewer than 12 minutes per game over those two seasons.
Other notable UFAs still on the market: Tyler Johnson (Chicago Blackhawks), Max Pacioletti (Washington), Ryan Suter (Dallas), Anthony DeAngelo (Carolina) and James van Riemsdyk (Boston), plus former Red Wings Filip Zadina (San Jose), Dominik Kubalik (Ottawa) and Jakub Vrana (St. Louis).
AFP Analytics projected Spron to sign a three-year deal worth $4 million per season, but a week into the free-agent rush, no deal has been signed, but there's no doubt he'll find work in the NHL.
The problem for Sprong may be that he has a reputation for being below-average overall. He scored 21 goals in his final season with Seattle, but missed time at times due to health reasons. Sprong's overall play last season also didn't sit well with head coach Derek Lalonde.
But the Red Wings were pleased with his offensive production, especially the fact that he was able to score no matter what line he was assigned to.
Yzerman said they could make more moves, but they would need to preserve $20 million in cap space to pay their four restricted free agents — Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, Joe Veleno and Jonatan Bergren — with Raymond and Seider likely to receive at least $17 million of that.
Veleno has filed for arbitration, but an agreement is likely to be reached before trial.
Sprong received $2 million from Yzerman on a one-year contract last season, but the Red Wings don't currently have the salary-cap space to pay him that much.
