NHL Buzz: Kraken reacquires Sprong in trade with Canucks

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Seattle Kraken

The Kraken have reacquired forward Daniel Sprong for future consideration as part of a trade with the Vancouver Canucks.

The 27-year-old has three points (one goal, two assists) in nine games this season and 162 points (86 goals, 76 assists) in 353 career NHL games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, Kraken and Canucks.

Sprong played a total of 82 games with the Kraken during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

On July 20, he signed a one-year contract with the Canucks as a free agent.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Bryan Rust returned for the Penguins on Friday against the Washington Capitals.

Rust participated in an optional morning skate on Thursday, but did not play in the 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes and has missed five games with a lower-body injury. He normally plays as a right winger in one of the first two lines and has four points (three goals, one assist) in eight games this season.

Rust was originally featured on a week-by-week basis. He was injured on October 26 in the third period of a 3-4 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, injuring his right leg after fighting along the boards with forward Nils Hoglander.

“It’s always a good feeling when you’re able to rejoin the team and experience somewhat normal things again,” Rust said Wednesday. “It happened a lot quicker than I expected. At first I wasn’t so optimistic. … I think now they’ve done a really good job of getting me back in shape. Hopefully things continue to go in the right direction.” — Wes Crosby

Washington Capitals

Sonny Milano did not play for the Capitals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday after the forward suffered an upper-body injury against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery initially said Milano would be “out for a while,” but then corrected himself.

“I don’t know the schedule,” Carbery said. “I shouldn’t say that. He’s out.”

Jakub Vrana will replace Milano in the lineup after being a healthy backup in the last two games. Carbery said Washington will likely bring back a forward from Hershey of the American Hockey League to have an additional forward on the roster for Saturday’s trip to the St. Louis Blues.

Defenseman Jakob Chychrun skated in a regular jersey Friday morning after practicing in a non-contact jersey earlier this week. Although Chychrun remained on the ice for extra work after the morning skate, Carbery didn’t rule out playing against Pittsburgh.

“I’ll talk to the training staff and see how it goes,” Carbery said. “I’ll get an update when he’s done skating, but he’s getting very close.” — Tom Gulitti