F Kenta Isogai - Wenatchee Wild, WHL (2022 undrafted)

[singlesliceofcheese]

Interesting player. He is leading the EBYSL in points as a 15 year old. He is Japanese.

Kenta Isogai at eliteprospects.com

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[Pavel Buchnevich]

He's playing for the Youngstown Phantoms this year.

He's doing well to get in the lineup more regularly than a few other 16 year olds, but he has almost zero impact. And his skating looks very sluggish for a player who is only 5'11.

 

[pgfan66]

Thought he’d take a step forward this year but his point pace is worse than last season. Anyone here who can tell me more about him?

 

[Eye of Ra]

japanese players gets hyped just becuse they are japanese. not a single of all those endless hyped japanese players has ever turned into a good player in the best leagues (nhl, khl, shl, nla, ahl)

 

[wetcoast]

japanese players gets hyped just becuse they are japanese. not a single of all those endless hyped japanese players has ever turned into a good player in the best leagues (nhl, khl, shl, nla, ahl)

I was thinking the same thing but also thought at some time that will change.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

At first there was Aito Oguchi, Yu Sato, now Isogai.

Nice to see some players breaking the 'import barrier', but not sure if any will actually make the NHL any time soon.

 

[Albatros]

I was thinking the same thing but also thought at some time that will change.

There's no compelling reason for talented players to go to another continent when they can also earn a living in domestic hockey.

 

[wetcoast]

There's no compelling reason for talented players to go to another continent when they can also earn a living in domestic hockey.

Someone will dream bigger than that one day.

 

[SlafySZN]

I didn't see him on any lists i saw for the draft, is he ranked somewhere or it's more likely he's not drafted this year?

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

I didn't see him on any lists i saw for the draft, is he ranked somewhere or it's more likely he's not drafted this year?

Probably not drafted this year - he’s made no significant noise

 

[AlexanderSemin21]

I remember when Shuhei Kuji dominated the Asian League and then went to Eisbare Berlin and he scored 2 points in 37 games.. japanese players are a bit of a fraud lol, but i think Yushiro Hiranoh could play some games in the NHL next season.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

I remember when Shuhei Kuji dominated the Asian League and then went to Eisbare Berlin and he scored 2 points in 37 games.. japanese players are a bit of a fraud lol, but i think Yushiro Hiranoh could play some games in the NHL next season.

Lol, I hardly throw this line around but ‘a little bit ignorant of you to say that’ about Japanese players don’t you think?

It’s going to be a long, long time before we ever see a pure Chinese, Japanese or even Korean player break through that barrier.

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

There's no compelling reason for talented players to go to another continent when they can also earn a living in domestic hockey.

Fame, nationalism, and perhap better living if the player moves overseas.

Also, I think the money looks better on paper overseas than Japan.

 

[Albatros]

Also, I think the money looks better on paper overseas than Japan.

Unless you can make the NHL there's no point really, in Europe a Japanese player that is no better than domestic talent isn't going to be paid more than in the Asia League.

 

[pgfan66]

Kenta looks a lot better than his stats. High-end skater with solid skill. Works really hard. Just hasn’t been able to turn his tools into production. I think he can be a pro in Europe for sure. His agent is German, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him end up there one day.

 

[SlafySZN]

Kenta looks a lot better than his stats. High-end skater with solid skill. Works really hard. Just hasn’t been able to turn his tools into production. I think he can be a pro in Europe for sure. His agent is German, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him end up there one day.

Yes, very good skating abilities, skilled, not afraid to crash the net

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Unless you can make the NHL there's no point really, in Europe a Japanese player that is no better than domestic talent isn't going to be paid more than in the Asia League.

While your statement isn't wrong, I just think being in Europe still can be a stepping stone for Asian players to enter the North American league, although the likelihood of entering the NHL is quite slim.

 

[viceroy]

He may not be the guy but some will break through eventually. Just look at baseball, Japanese and Koreans are the new hotness.

 

[Bubbles]

Taken by the Wenatchee Wild in the import draft.

First Japanese player taken in the WHL import draft.

WHL is saying he's 5’9” / 159 lbs...but EP is saying he's 5'11"?

 

[Bubbles]

First WHL goal! First by a Japanese born player in the WHL? I'm not sure.

 

[Bubbles]

2G and 1A tonight. He's getting an extended look on the top line. I like his speed and his tenacious fore checking.

 

[Albatros]

First WHL goal! First by a Japanese born player in the WHL? I'm not sure.

Jordan Keller comes to mind among current players.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Yeah, an interesting prospect, still pretty far from playing in NHL, but good chance he'll become a solid professional player in AHL or Europe.

 

[BlueBull]

Yeah, an interesting prospect, still pretty far from playing in NHL, but good chance he'll become a solid professional player in AHL or Europe.

He might just be good enough that a team might sign him to play on an NHL Roster as some sort of historic milestone. (First Japanese born and trained skater in the NHL.)
Hell, he might have a small chance that he could genuinely carve out a fringe NHL career.

This guy is 100 times the player Aito Iguchi ever was.

 

[Kshahdoo]

He might just be good enough that a team might sign him to play on an NHL Roster as some sort of historic milestone. (First Japanese born and trained skater in the NHL.)
Hell, he might have a small chance that he could genuinely carve out a fringe NHL career.

This guy is 100 times the player Aito Iguchi ever was.

Yeah, if Shogun TV show is as popular as it's going to be, one of NHL teams will sign him, or at leats it's how I see it.