Welcome to our series on who wore each number best for the Penguins.
The idea is being openly borrowed from our new hockey writer, Cody Tucker, and his project at the Lansing State Journal covering all the uniform numbers worn through Michigan State football history, one that’s been well received by their readers and prompted heavy discussion and debate.
Under my organization, and following the voting of a big chunk of our staff, we’ll publish one new one each day until completion, which should be right around the start of training camp.
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Name: Simon Despres
Number: 47
Position: Defenseman
Born: July 27, 1991, in Laval, Quebec
Seasons with Penguins: 2011-15
Statistics with Penguins: 144 games, five goals, 28 assists in regular season; six games in playoffs
WHY DESPRES?
Despres was the Penguins' first-round pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. He made his professional debut in 2011 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, made his NHL debut later that season on Dec. 1, then scored his first NHL goal later that month against Ryan Miller and the Sabres:
It was a promising start for the former QMJHL Defenceman of the Year, but Despres never quite lived up to expectations for the Penguins.
He had the size and the athleticism to succeed at the NHL level, but his decision-making both on and off the ice hindered his ability. Despres called himself immature in a 2016 interview, and said that during his early years in the NHL he didn't know how much staying out late and drinking affected his play.
Despres was making mistakes defensively, wasn't producing offensively like he did in juniors, and took on more of a physical role, dropping the gloves six times in his final season with the Penguins.
With other young and more promising defensemen moving through the Penguins' system, and Despres seemingly plateaued, the Penguins traded Despres to the Ducks for Ben Lovejoy in 2015.
WHAT'S HE DOING NOW?
Despres finished that season with Anaheim, then signed a five-year contract extension. He sustained a severe concussion the following season, 2015-16, and missed 42 games. He played the first game of 2016-17, but recurring concussion problems kept him out the rest of the season. As a result, the Ducks bought out the remaining years of his contract.
Despres made his return to professional hockey the following season, and played 44 games with HC Slovan Bratislava of the KHL in 2017-18, recording four goals and seven assists. He also represented Canada in the Karjala Cup tournament, registering one assist in six games.
Now, Despres is attempting a return to the NHL. He'll attend the Canadiens' training camp this September on a professional tryout offer and attempt to earn a full contract.
IT WAS SPOKEN
“He was like a father to me when I was here. But I’m happy to see he’s not playing now, because of his health. You’ve only got one life. One family. It was starting to get scary there, where he’d be in the hospital after games. I’m sure it’s tough for him right now, but it was the right decision for everyone.” -- Despres on Pascal Dupuis's health in 2016
“He’s older, he’s smarter, he’s staying in his position, not giving the puck away. And he’s got a big butt. He’s being more physical than before. Knocking guys down. Or they bounce right off him. It's a big butt." -- Marc-Andre Fleury on Despres' assets in 2014
HONORABLE MENTIONS AT NO. 47
None
ANY DEBATE?
Nope! The next most notable 47s were forgettable -- Michal Sivek, acquired in the Jaromir Jagr trade, and Maxim Galanov, lost to the Atlanta Thrashers in the expansion draft.
Tomorrow: I have No. 48
Yesterday: Joe Vitale