๐จ SHOCK MOVE: Former Canucks Winger Abruptly Retires From NHL at 28, Signs Deal With CSKA Moscow ๐จ
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In a stunning turn of events that has caught many NHL fans off guard, former Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sprong has brought his North American hockey journey to a sudden halt at just 28 years of age. As the 2025-26 season approaches, Sprong has opted to continue his professional hockey career overseas, signing a one-year deal with Russian powerhouse CSKA Moscowโa decision that effectively ends his NHL chapter after nearly 400 games.
This unexpected move is part of a broader offseason trend among ex-Canucks players, several of whom have recently chosen to head across the Atlantic in search of new opportunities in European leagues. The Canucks’ offseason has already seen names like Collin Delia ink a deal with Brynรคs IF in the Swedish Hockey League and Spencer Martin commit to a multi-year stint with CSKA Moscow. Now, Daniel Sprong joins the list of former Canucks taking their talents abroad.
Sprong, who hails from Amsterdam, Netherlands, was on the Vancouver Canucksโ opening night roster last October after signing a one-year deal with the club during the 2024 offseason. Expectations were moderately high that the Dutch winger could carve out a depth role with the team. However, things didnโt pan out as planned. He appeared in only nine games for Vancouver before being traded to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for future considerations. It marked yet another stop in a turbulent season for Sprong.
Across the 2024-25 NHL campaign, Sprong suited up for three different franchises: Vancouver, Seattle, and finally the New Jersey Devils. He also saw time in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. In total, he logged 30 NHL games last season, contributing two goals and five assists for a modest total of seven points. He finished the year with two penalty minutes and a minus-one ratingโa far cry from the breakout season he had with Detroit just two years ago.
Rumors began swirling earlier this month that Sprong was being eyed by multiple Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) teams. Russian news outlet Sport-Express reported that both CSKA Moscow and Avangard Omsk were actively pursuing the skilled winger. The speculation intensified after it was revealed that Avangardโs head coach, Guy Boucher, was personally interested in acquiring Sprongโs services. However, it was CSKA Moscow who ultimately won the race for his signature.
According to Sport-Express journalist Mikhail Zislis (quotes translated from Russian), โAs SE has learned, striker Daniel Sprong has attracted the attention of CSKA and Avangard. Last season he played for three NHL clubs – Vancouver, Seattle and New Jersey, and also spent time in the AHL, playing for Coachella. The head coach of the Omsk team Guy Boucher is personally interested in the 28-year-old Sprong. Probably, the appearance of this player in Avangard will lead to the departure of Vladimir Tkachev.”
Just nine days after those initial reports, CSKA Moscow made the move official. In a team announcement released Wednesday, the club confirmed that Sprong had signed a one-year contract that would keep him in Russia through the end of the 2025-26 season. While the official financial terms were not publicly disclosed, HockeyWorldwide on Instagram reported that the deal could be worth as much as 225 million rubles (approximately $2.87 million USD) including performance-based bonuses.
“CSKA has signed a contract with forward Daniel Sprong. The agreement is for one year, until the end of the 2025/26 season,” the Russian club said in a brief statement.
Itโs a significant payday for a player who couldnโt secure a stable NHL role last season and is yet another example of the KHL’s growing appeal to NHL-caliber players who find themselves at a career crossroads. Sprong’s offensive skill set, particularly his quick release and skating ability, are well-suited for the wider ice surfaces of European rinks, and CSKA Moscow seems confident heโll be a strong asset in their lineup.
Sprongโs NHL career has been one of unfulfilled promise and fleeting flashes of brilliance. Originally a second-round pick (46th overall) of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2015 NHL Draft, he bounced around the league with stints in Anaheim, Washington, Detroit, Seattle, New Jersey, and Vancouver. Despite his journey across six different NHL teams, consistency remained elusive. He finishes his North American career with 374 NHL games under his beltโaccumulating 55 goals, 53 assists, and 108 points.
At 28, Sprong still has plenty of hockey left in him, and perhaps the change of scenery and style of play in the KHL will provide the right conditions for a career resurgence. For CSKA Moscow, a club with championship aspirations, Sprongโs experience and offensive instincts could prove valuable down the stretch.
Meanwhile, in Vancouver, his departure is a footnote in whatโs been an offseason full of roster churn and lingering questions about the teamโs depth. Sprongโs brief stint with the Canucks may have been forgettable, but it now marks the starting point of a bold new direction in his career.
As he embarks on this latest chapter in Russia, Daniel Sprong joins a growing list of NHLers who are opting for opportunity over familiarity. Whether this marks a short detour or a permanent change remains to be seenโbut one thing is certain: Daniel Sprongโs hockey journey is far from over.
