triblive
The Fort Wayne Komets have inked former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Simon Despres to a one-year pact, the ECHL club revealed on Tuesday. This move brings the 35-year-old back to North American ice after a stint in Australia.
Despres, a native of Laval, Quebec, was most recently active with the Melbourne Ice of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL), where he appeared in 12 games and tallied 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) before the league's season concluded in mid-August.
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 218 pounds, the left-handed shot was selected by the Penguins in the first round (30th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft. Over parts of four seasons with Pittsburgh, he accumulated 33 points (five goals, 33 assists) while averaging 15:54 of ice time per game.
His NHL journey also included time with the Anaheim Ducks across three seasons, though his last NHL appearance came in 2016-17. In the years since, Despres has played professionally in Slovakia, Germany, Sweden, Austria, and Scotland, showcasing a nomadic career.
Key Analysis
Despite his extensive professional resume, Despres has never suited up in the ECHL, although he does have 116 games of AHL experience, primarily with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. His signing with Fort Wayne adds a seasoned veteran to their blue line, potentially providing leadership and offensive production from the back end as the team looks to strengthen its roster.
Originally reported by triblive.