3 players who were the Red Wings biggest surprises this season

Daniel Sprong proved his strong 2022-23 season was no fluke

Daniel Sprong spent 66 games in the Pacific Northwest last season playing for the Seattle Kraken, and he finished the year hitting the 20-plus goal mark for the first time. To be more accurate, he scored 21 times with the Kraken and he contributed to another 25 goals, good for 46 points. What made 2022-23 even more impressive for Sprong is that he reached those numbers playing fourth-line minutes, averaging just 11:25 of ice time per game. 

Few probably saw Sprong repeating his success from last season in Detroit, but through 74 games, his shots found the net 17 times, and he’s been once again a major contributor, with 41 total points. At the time of this writing, his 41 points tied for eighth on the team alongside Moritz Seider, and he was also tied for sixth in goals scored with J.T. Compher. 

While we don’t know if Sprong will continue his career in Detroit, he’s definitely made a case to extend his stay in a Red Wings uniform next season and perhaps beyond. Detroit has been a high-scoring team throughout the 2023-24 season for the most part, and Sprong has played a major role in helping them maintain a top 10 position in goals scored.