Fantasy Prospect Pick Up Of The Week

Each week on TPS, I'll try and give you a heads up on what rookie, sophomore or budding AHL star you should try and grab in your fantasy hockey league. Sometimes they'll be an unknown, while others, like this week, it'll be a well known player you should trade for. So without further babble, here it is:

Devon Setoguchi-San Jose Sharks

It’s funny how players seem motivated by failure. In 2006 Devon Setoguchi wasn’t good enough to make Brent Sutter’s World Junior Team, despite a 33 goal season the year before in Saskatoon. Setoguchi finished 2006 with 36 goals. In 2007 he was again given bad news early in the morning, as one of the final cuts along with Oshawa’s John Tavares. Setoguchi also finished that season with 36 goals.

Some kids sulk, others respond and after 3 – 30 + goal seasons with Saskatoon and Prince George, Setoguchi moved onto a pro career. So far the 8th overall pick from 2005 hasn’t disappointed the San Jose Sharks one bit. Of the players drafted ahead of him, only Sidney Crosby has scored more goals.

Last season he split his time between the bay area and Worcester. In 44 games with the Sharks, he netted 11 goals.

This year (heading into Tuesday) in 21 games he has 12 already, putting him on pace for a 47 goal season. He’s also added 12 assists for 24 points and has only taken one penalty. His goal total puts him tied for 5th in the league and he’s tied for 10th in points.

Setoguchi leads San Jose in goals and is tied with captain Patrick Marleau in points, while only averaging 16 minutes per game. As his ice time increases, so should his point totals.

He might not be available in your league on the waiver wire but Devon Setoguchi is definitely worth trading for and building a team around as he has proven at every level he can score.