Confirmed with Link: Simon Despres signs PTO with Laval (12-2)

[12jf54]

Click to read more...

 

[Agalloch]

Good move. Low risk, could be a good reward.

 

[MXD]

Audition for Laval.

 

[Le Tricolore]

This year's Eric Gelinas, I guess.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Its a shame what concussions did to him, he looked like he was going to be a really good NHLer.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Good for the young man, by the sounds of it he was really hoping to get that nod. I'll be rooting for him.

 

[Laurentide]

He's got really good size. Could he be any worse than Benn?

 

[12jf54]

Former 1st Round Pick. Heavy injury history.

From June :

Simon Desprès veut une chance - La Presse+

"Tout ce que Simon Després demande, c’est une chance. Une invitation quelque part dans la LNH. Mais on voit de toute évidence quelle équipe vient au sommet de sa liste de priorités.
« J’ai 26 ans et je peux choisir où je veux aller. Ça n’a pas de prix. Je viens de Laval, vous pouvez imaginer où je veux aller. »
Serait-il prêt à accepter un contrat de la Ligue américaine ?
« Oui, sans hésiter. »
Le message est donc passé à l’organisation du Canadien, Simon Després veut refaire ses preuves dans la meilleure ligue du monde."

 

[junyab]

Time for a Bregevin depth defecemen dance!

 

[DAChampion]

Good move.

 

[Tuggy]

Good. I was hoping they would do this.

 

[12jf54]

Joel Bouchard knows him too :

Dans un aréna près de chez vous... Simon Després | Mathias Brunet | Hockey

"J'ai eu à travailler là-dessus, la confiance, avoue-t-il. Être plus concentré et intense lors des entraînements. J'ai l'aide de plusieurs personnes: Joël Bouchard, avec qui je me suis entraîné cet été, mon agent Christian Daigle, les gens de l'organisation des Penguins.»"

 

[L4br3cqu3]

Best case scenario, his concussion history really is behind him, he's not too rusted from the last few years, and becomes a good #5-6 D for the Habs, and I repeat, a 'good' one, not a 'Benn/Schlemko' one. He already was for Anaheim before all his troubles.

Worst case scenario, he becomes a good one in Laval, who will help our kids there.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Worth it!

 

[Et le But]

Why not? He looked promising at one point.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

He did play almost the full KHL season last year so there's a chance his health issues are behind him.

 

[NobleSix]

Good low risk flier.

 

[MaxDummy]

18 views, 17 reply. Amazing

 

[AmeriHab]

Seems last couple years we chase a defenseman who was a 1st round pick and looked promising in their first couple seasons as top defenseman until they just fell right off

 

[Le Barron de HF]

Are there a lot of players of Despres' caliber that are able to get their careers back on track after lots of concussions?

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

He's from Laval so no pressure for him to play in the NHL

 

[SWRekker]

Are there a lot of players of Despres' caliber that are able to get their careers back on track after lots of concussions?

Attitude is everything !

 

[BLONG7]

Sounds like a good move, but once again we are adding to our bottom D depth, not the top end...we have like, 7-8 guys who belong in the bottom pairing................kinda like our forward group, in that we have 10 guys to fill the bottom 6

MB being MB...

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

Even if he just plays in Laval it would be great for him to still play professional hockey and get to be in his hometown after all that he's been through.

 

[justafan22]

Attitude is everything !

not really