Forward Jordan Kawaguchi is heading overseas after spending his first three pro seasons in North America. Kawaguchi’s professional career began at the end of the 2020-21 season with the Texas Stars, where he played three games, putting up a goal and an assist. He would sign with the Texas Stars for the following season, putting up six goals and 17 assists for 23 points in 49 games during the regular season and two games during the Calder Cup Playoffs. The 27-year-old forward has spent the last two seasons with the Idaho Steelheads, where he’s put up 34 goals and 49 assists for 83 points in 87 games; he would add eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 25 Kelly Cup Playoff games.
Prior to going pro, he would spend four seasons at North Dakota, where he would put up 40 goals and 86 assists for 126 points and would be the Captain of the Fighting Hawks in his final season with the team. In his Junior year, he would put up 15 goals and 30 assists for 45 points in 33 games and would be named to the NCHC All-First team and would be a Hobey Baker nominee among other numerous awards.
Kawaguchi is the cousin of former NHLer Devin Setoguchi, who played for the San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, and Los Angeles Kings, putting up 131 goals and 130 assists for 261 points in 516 NHL games; he would add 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points in 53 Stanley Cup Playoff Games.
