Former San Jose Sharks forward Devin Setoguchi will attend training camp with the Los Angeles Kings on a professional try-out, according to multiple sources.
Setoguchi’s Early Career Promising
The eighth overall pick in the 2005 Entry Draft played his first four years in the NHL with the Sharks. His best year statistically came during the 2008-09 campaign, in which he recorded 31 goals and 34 assists. He was frequently deployed with center Joe Thornton on the Sharks top line.
Devin Setoguchi will attend training camp with the #LAKings on a PTO, via two sources. 11-13=24 in 30 games with HC Davos of NLA last year.
— LA Kings Insider (@lakingsinsider) September 6, 2016
Setoguchi signed a three-year contract extension with the Sharks just one day before the 2011 NHL Entry Draft at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Despite the newly signed deal, San Jose General Manager Doug Wilson would ship the young winger, along with Charlie Coyle and the 28th overall pick in the 2011 draft to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for defenseman/right wing Brent Burns and a 2012 second-round selection.
Setoguchi would struggle to regain his scoring form with the offensively challenged Wild. He would spend two years with the Wild before being traded to the Winnipeg Jets. He last played with the Calgary Flames in 2014-15, splitting time between the AHL and NHL.
Last season, Setoguchi played in the Swiss National League A (NLA) with HC Davos. He recorded a solid 11 goals and 13 assists and only two penalty minutes in 30 games and eight points in seven postseason matches. Setoguchi would also add an assist in four Champions Hockey League contests, as well a goal and assist in Spengler Cup action.
Setoguchi Signs PTO
Only 29 years old, there is still plenty of hockey left in the once promising right winger from Taber, Alberta. With every team looking for scoring depth, he could prove to be an extremely affordable pick-up. However, his road back to the NHL with the Kings could be a difficult one. The Kings already have a full compliment of right wings listed on their depth chart, including Tyler Toffoli, Dustin Brown, Teddy Purcell, and Trevor Lewis.
Setoguchi played with the Ontario Reign, then part of the ECHL, during the last NHL lockout. A two-way contract could be an option as well as insurance for the Kings during the upcoming season.
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