Devin Setoguchi, who was out of the NHL last season; and played just 12 games with the Calgary Flames in 2014-15; has found his way back to the big league. Last season Setoguchi tried out for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and found himself playing for Davos in the Swiss League. This year, Setoguchi again took a try-out, this time with the Los Angeles Kings. Things ended on a better note though, as Setoguchi made the Kings roster. Today the team signed him to a one-year, two-way contract worth $575,000.
Los Angeles Kings Sign Devin Setoguchi to One-Year Deal
Setoguchi is an eight-year NHL veteran, best known for his time with the San Jose Sharks. He has also played for the Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild and Flames. In 471 career NHL games he has scored 127 goals and 122 assists for 249 career points. He has added 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points in 51 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. Setoguchi’s best season came in 2008-09 when he scored 31 goals and 65 points for the Sharks. He has two other 20 goal seasons, as well as a 19-goal campaign, and scored 13 goals and 27 points in the lockout shortened 2012-13 season. Last season, Setoguchi played with HC Davos of National League A in Switzerland, where he had 24 points in 30 games.
“I thought I gave myself a chance. By no means is it over. It’s an everyday thing for me,” Setoguchi told the Los Angeles Times on Monday. “I’ve got to make sure that I keep improving and getting better and trying to prove my worth here in L.A.”
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“He can still play at a high pace,” Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said via Yahoo Sports. “Not all players have the great desire to do that every day. He’s still here, so that means he’s got a good assessment. It doesn’t make sense going farther than that. Came in in good shape, came in and played a pace, came in and played the way that we need to play. Just continue to every day just try and help him and give him some direction, and then he takes the ball.”
“We’re all pulling for Seto. I played with him for three years and he went through some tough times when he was here obviously and got a little worse when he left. He was a great teammate and was someone that was very good to me and someone who had some very good years in San Jose,” Sharks forward, and former teammate Logan Couture said. “We’re all very happy to see him get another shot in the NHL, turn his life around and hopefully he plays well for them … but not tomorrow night.”
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