How a Rick Tocchet Call Sold Daniel Sprong on the Canucks

When Daniel Sprong and Rick Tocchet spoke recently, a phone call sealed the scoring winger's interest in the Vancouver Canucks. It became clear that the Jack Adams-winning head coach believes he can help Sprong become a defensively-reliable player.

Sprong has proven his scoring ability in the NHL, with 39 goals and 89 points for the Detroit Red Wings and Seattle Kraken over the past two seasons. Yet, despite his offensive prowess, Sprong signed with the Canucks for just $895,000�a reflection of the defensive deficiencies in his game.

«I still think there are things in my game to fix,» Sprong admitted in a video call earlier this week. «Vancouver and I talked about that, and it excited me that they want to help me become a better player.»

Sprong can look at Tocchet's track record with players like Nils Hoglander and Dakota Joshua. Joshua, signed before Tocchet joined, was seen as a player with room to grow. With Tocchet's guidance, Joshua became a vital NHL forward and earned a significant raise. Hoglander, similar to Sprong, struggled with off-the-puck play but improved significantly in 2023-24, scoring 24 goals alongside Elias Pettersson.

Tocchet expressed big hopes for Sprong, a player he knows well from their days in Pittsburgh. Tocchet told The Athletic they had a frank conversation before Sprong signed, discussing why he hadn't stuck with a team and often sat on the bench late in games. Tocchet appreciated Sprong's accountability and desire to improve without the puck.

Tocchet's ability to develop players like Brock Boeser, who now plays critical minutes defending leads, showcases his coaching impact. Boeser's improvement in overall play under Tocchet's guidance has been significant.

For Sprong, who was drafted in Pittsburgh by the Canucks' current management and first broke into the NHL with Tocchet on the coaching staff, choosing Vancouver feels like returning to familiar support. While he knows he needs to reach new heights in his game, doing so with those who first believed in him seems fitting.