Daniel Sprong含羞草研究社檚 road through the NHL has been a winding one.

After signing a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks, the 27-year-old scoring winger is looking to make his latest destination more than a pit stop.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 hoping Vancouver含羞草研究社檚 not just one year,含羞草研究社� Sprong said in a video call Monday. 含羞草研究社淚 can see myself being there long term and that含羞草研究社檚 really what excited me.含羞草研究社�

The Canucks did not release the value of the contract, but multiple reports have pegged it at US$975,000.

Vancouver will be the sixth NHL team Sprong has played for since he was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015.

The six-foot, 195-pound forward registered 18 goals and 25 assists in 76 appearances for the Detroit Red Wings last season. He含羞草研究社檚 also had stints with the Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals and Seattle Kraken.

Heading into free agency this summer, he felt confident.

Sprong admitted he was surprised when the market opened on July 1 and the right offer didn含羞草研究社檛 surface.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 kind of a wake-up call, but at the same time, I think it含羞草研究社檚 also good motivation and kind of put some fuel to the fire,含羞草研究社� he said.

Eventually, Vancouver made its bid and a phone call with Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet sealed the deal.

含羞草研究社淭here were other teams but I felt the most comfortable and happiest with Vancouver when I talked on the phone and that made my decision very easy at the end,含羞草研究社� he said.

Tocchet, who won the Jack Adams award as the league含羞草研究社檚 top coach last season, has history with Sprong, having worked with him as an assistant bench boss in Pittsburgh.

Sprong含羞草研究社檚 also familiar with Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin, both of whom were in the Penguins含羞草研究社� front office when he was drafted.

含羞草研究社淭hey drafted me, they含羞草研究社檝e believed in me from the second I got drafted,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淚 think since then, I含羞草研究社檝e matured a lot, I think my game has developed. There含羞草研究社檚 still a part of my game that I want to fix. We talked about that on the phone, how we含羞草研究社檙e going to work on it, improve in that area. And that含羞草研究社檚 only going to lead to bigger opportunity and, hopefully, more success for the team and myself.含羞草研究社�

Born in Amsterdam, Sprong and his family moved to Montreal when he was seven so he could have more opportunities in hockey. He was a standout for the QMJHL含羞草研究社檚 Charlottetown Islanders, leading the team with 88 regular-season points and another 11 in playoffs.

The jump to pro hockey hasn含羞草研究社檛 always been easy.

While he含羞草研究社檚 contributed 85 goals and 74 assists over 344 regular-season NHL games, Sprong has averaged 11:57 in ice time.

A lack of situational trust from coaches may have impacted how he has been used in the past, the winger said, noting that his defensive game hasn含羞草研究社檛 always been strong.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e going to work on it in Vancouver to gain the trust and be reliable in those situations,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 working on it over the summertime to work on those details.含羞草研究社�

Sprong含羞草研究社檚 scoring touch will complement a Canucks offence that already boasts the likes of centre J.T. Miller, who finished last season with 103 points, and right-winger Brock Boeser, who registered 40 goals.

In addition to working on his defensive game, Sprong said he含羞草研究社檒l be sharpening his shot this summer to keep up his offensive output.

含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 not just working on your weaknesses, it含羞草研究社檚 working on your strengths so you keep evolving as a player. And I think over time I含羞草研究社檝e done that,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淎nd there含羞草研究社檚 still things I want to fix. And I think if I fix those things, there含羞草研究社檚 only positives and better outcomes.含羞草研究社�

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