Daniel Sprong had an important message, apparently for his own team, after a sensational performance in Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg’s preseason victory over Traktor Chelyabinsk.

Sprong assisted on Anatoly Golyshev’s go-ahead goal late in the third and then scored the overtime winner 1:38 into sudden death to give Avtomobilist a 4-3 win at their home arena.

To celebrate, Sprong, who appeared upset, pointed at his chest over a dozen times, saying, “That’s why I’m the best.” The video then went viral online.

So why would Sprong respond with frustration after something that normally makes a player very happy?

Well, less than 24 hours earlier, Russian media reported that Avtomobilist was preparing to part ways with the 29-year-old forward. Sport-Express reporter Artur Khairullin posted on Telegram that Sprong’s contract was to be terminated by the club and that he might move on to Ak Bars. Match TV tied the report to dissatisfaction with his play — something Avtomobilist pushed back on immediately.

“There’s no talk of trading Sprong,” a source in Avtomobilist’s management told Match TV, as translated by Google Translate. “And there’s no dissatisfaction with his play. So far, everything’s fine.”

Sprong’s agent, Alesha Pilko, was even more pointed with his comments, essentially accusing people of spreading baseless rumors and telling them to concern themselves with “real matters” rather than gossip.

The 29-year-old forward is currently with Avtomobilist after things soured with HC CSKA Moscow during the 2025-26 regular season. Sprong signed a one-year contract with CSKA in July 2025 after leaving the NHL. He was productive immediately, posting 31 points (12g, 19a) in 29 games and leading CSKA in points early in the season. But head coach Igor Nikitin became increasingly unhappy with aspects of his play. On December 1, after scratching Sprong, Nikitin said CSKA had dressed players who “play for the team” and suggested Sprong’s individual statistics weren’t translating into team success.

Sprong then disappeared entirely from the lineup. He missed all of December and remained scratched into January, going more than a month without playing despite leading the team in scoring. CSKA president Igor Esmantovich backed Nikitin, saying that “it’s not enough to be a star, you have to be a leader,” while acknowledging the club was considering how to proceed with Sprong.

Sprong’s representatives then began looking for another KHL destination. Avtomobilist director Maksim Ryabkov later said the idea of a move came primarily from Sprong’s reps, who were searching for a trade that would work for CSKA. Avtomobilist first spoke with CSKA in December, then negotiations accelerated during the three days before the deal.

On January 10, 2026, CSKA officially traded Sprong to Avtomobilist for cash compensation. The KHL’s official transaction notice confirms the deal. Championat reported that Avtomobilist paid 100 million rubles to complete the deal.

Avtomobilist then signed Sprong to a one-way contract through May 31, 2027. The high-scoring forward responded with an absurd 33 points (18g, 15a) in 23 games. In the playoffs, he added 7 points (5g, 2a) in 6 games.

Avtomobilist is already the 13th different professional team Sprong has played for during his 10-year career. He’s suited up for seven teams in the NHL — the Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks, and New Jersey Devils — and four in the AHL: the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, San Diego Gulls, Hershey Bears, and Coachella Valley Firebirds.