Dutch-Canadian winger Daniel Sprong, aged 28, has inked a one-year deal with CSKA Moscow, the KHL team announced on Wednesday. Born in the Netherlands, Sprong grew up playing hockey in North America from the age of eight and this marks his first professional contract in European hockey.
Sprong’s junior hockey career included time with the Charlottetown Islanders in the QMJHL. He was drafted 46th overall in the second round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. At 18, he made the Penguins’ training camp roster but was sent back to juniors after scoring two goals in 18 NHL games. Between 2015 and 2025, Sprong accumulated 166 goals and 68 assists over 374 NHL regular-season games playing against teams such as the Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks, and New Jersey Devils. He also notched three points in 14 playoff games against Washington, Seattle, and New Jersey.
The 2023-24 season was a turbulent one for Sprong, who began in Vancouver before being traded to Seattle and then spent 19 games in the AHL prior to being traded to New Jersey at the deadline.
In addition, Canadian goaltender Spencer Martin, 30, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, according to the KHL club’s announcement on Wednesday.
CSKA, often referred to as the Red Army team in North America, is a dominant force in Russian hockey but ended last season fifth in the KHL Western Conference and was knocked out in the first playoff round.
The team has actively bolstered its roster this offseason, bringing in Sprong, Nikolai Kovalenko, Rhett Gardiner, Denis Zerov, and goaltender Spencer Martin, while Egor Sokolov was signed and traded. They have also secured contracts for former NHL players Denis Guryanov, Nikita Nesterov, Nikita Okhotyuk, and Vladislav Kamenev for the 2025-26 season.
American-born Russian winger Nikolai Kovalenko, 25, has also agreed to a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, announced via the KHL club’s social media on Saturday.
Fan Take: This flurry of signings by CSKA Moscow signals their commitment to reclaiming their top spot in the KHL after a disappointing season. Hockey fans should watch closely, as the influx of talent from North America and former NHL players could intensify the competition and elevate the level of play in European hockey.
