Daniel Sprong’s one-year deal with the Red Wings was the kind of low-risk investment that should be replicated by the Red Wings this offseason
Daniel Sprong might not be a Red Wing come October, but his season was largely a success. As an unrestricted free agent who found himself healthy scratched a few times as the season reached its final games, Sprong nonetheless put up his second straight 40-point season as mostly a depth piece. And whether or not Detroit wants him to return, the price of his efficient production will probably price the Red Wings out during a tight offseason when lots of their cap space will be tied up by Moritz Seider’s and Lucas Raymond’s extensions.
Whether or not Sprong is a Red Wing in the future, his free agent signing last season is one that should be replicated with similar free agents this offseason. In Sprong, Detroit found an undervalued depth scorer on an affordable contract that kept cap space for other signings. This offseason, with cap space even tighter, it’s budget signings like Sprong that can keep Detroit competitive.
Last offseason, Sprong entered free agency off a 40-point season in Seattle’s bottom six that called for a pay raise. The Kraken didn’t invest in him, withholding a qualifying offer as an RFA and letting him walk. This move avoided a potential arbitration hearing that would have probably cost Seattle more than the value of the production it expected of him. Banking on back-to-back 40-point seasons wasn’t a gamble the Kraken wanted to take.
So, the Red Wings gave Sprong a one-year, $2 million deal on the first day of free agency to add some goal scoring, taking the risk that he could live up to increased expectations on a rather reasonable cap hit. He did, and it was a smart expenditure by Steve Yzerman and the front office.
The Red Wings might not keep Daniel Sprong around, but they should want Daniel Sprongs in essence. He represents the archetype of successful free agent adds that can really help the Red Wings forward with depth on a budget.
Yzerman has shown his affinity for investing in undervalued players all throughout his tenure in Detroit, to varying degrees based on his team’s competitive level. Think back to first round pick reclamation projects such as Robby Fabbri and Brendan Perlini before the Red Wings were competitive. Fabbri has become a valuable winger who can play up and down the lineup, while Perlini wasn't so successful. But even as Detroit chases the playoffs from here on out, the same sentiment of risk and reward comes into view with a signing like Sprong. He wasn’t a pickup that redefined Detroit’s success — he wasn’t an All-Star, 40-goal scorer, nor could you expect him to be one. But he added meaningful depth, and it’s that depth that really gave the Red Wings a shot to make the playoffs when all the gears were turning. His low cap hit also allowed for other cheaper hires for even more depth. Big time free agency hires have a whole lot of expectations, but it’s the sneaky ones like Sprong that can make all the difference.
You could even count Patrick Kane and his hip surgery recovery in similar territory to Sprong. Even if Kane’s brand value was significant coming in, there was no guarantee that he'd be the elite scorer he was this season. His cap hit — $2.75 million — was reasonable for a dice roll, and Yzerman took a risk that led to a huge payoff.
One downside of such signings is that they aren’t long-term additions. They’re fleeting hires, fleshing out the roster on a year-to-year basis. When those deals expire, it’s difficult to retain those players if the deal works out. However, such quick breakups are an advantage when those players don’t live up to the expected value. It’s an easy out for both Detroit and the players like Sprong they invest in. Embracing the short term works for both sides.
Yzerman knows how to build depth through investing in undervalued players, the type of Moneyball tactics required to build the best roster he can. Even if Sprong will most likely be too expensive to keep, other players of a similar mold will be important adds to the roster this offseason. Cap space will be limited by the Seider and Raymond deals, and Detroit probably can’t afford to bring back all its free agents such as Kane and David Perron. Maybe they keep a couple, but there will still be holes in the lineup that need to be filled with budget contracts.
To fill them, Yzerman should look for the next Daniel Sprong — if not by name, then by situation.
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