EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) - Forward Devin Setoguchi agreed to a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, continuing his NHL comeback after nearly two years out of the league.
The Kings announced the deal while setting their regular-season roster for Wednesday’s opener at San Jose. Los Angeles also sent Rob Scuderi to the AHL after the veteran defenseman cleared waivers.
The 29-year-old Setoguchi went to training camp with Los Angeles on a pro tryout. He spent eight seasons with four NHL teams, including four years with the Sharks.
But he hasn’t played in the NHL since November 2014, when Calgary sent him to the minors. He also struggled with an alcohol problem and depression, and he spent last season playing in Switzerland.
Setoguchi was solid in camp with the Kings, who played him on their top line with captain Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. Setoguchi occupied the left wing spot normally held by Marian Gaborik, who is out until late November with a broken right foot.
Scuderi and forward Michael Latta were sent to the AHL’s Ontario Reign after they cleared waivers.
The 37-year-old Scuderi is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and a 12-year NHL veteran who played a major role on the Kings’ 2012 title-winning team. After signing with Pittsburgh as a free agent in 2013, he was traded to Chicago in December 2015 and back to Los Angeles in February.
But Scuderi failed to crack the roster out of camp. The Kings kept seven defensemen, including newcomer Tom Gilbert and Derek Forbort, who has 14 games of NHL experience.
The Kings also sent forwards Adrian Kempe and Michael Mersch and defensemen Kevin Gravel, Paul LaDue and Kurtis MacDermid to Ontario.
Goalie Jeff Zatkoff won the job as Jonathan Quick’s backup when the Kings assigned Peter Budaj to Ontario on Sunday.
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