Devin Setoguchi will be attending Los Angeles Kings training camp on a professional tryout (PTO), according to Jon Rosen of the Kings Insider.
After putting a long-standing fight against depression and substance abuse behind him, Setoguchi will seek to return to the NHL with a team playing just a few hundred miles from where his career began with the San Jose Sharks.
Setoguchi played parts of two seasons with the Minnesota Wild. (Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE)
Setoguchi, 29, last played in the NHL with the Calgary Flames during the 2014-15 season when he skated in 12 games. He spent the 2015-16 season in Europe, playing with Davos HC in Switzerland’s National League A. Setoguchi tallied 11 goals and 13 assists in 30 games with Davos, and added eight points in seven postseason games.
The native of Taber, Alberta, was drafted by the Sharks 8th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft — ahead of current NHL stars like T.J. Oshie, James Neal and Anze Kopitar.
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In 2008-09 with the Sharks, Setoguchi set career-highs in games played (81), goals (31), assists (34) and points (65), but was never able to come close to that production again, playing on four different teams over the next six seasons.
In 471 career NHL games, Setoguchi has scored 127 goals and 122 assists.
Setoguchi has spoken out more recently about how he was battling depression and substance abuse during his first stint in the NHL, which helps to explain why his career took the unfortunate turn it did. Setoguchi’s story will make him a player watched closely during training camp as he seeks to make the Kings’ roster and a return to the NHL.
