DESPRES NAMED PENGUINS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
April 24, 2013,
SAINT JOHN – Another former Sea Dog has earned some hardware from their team awards. Simon Despres was named the Pittsburgh Penguins Michel Briere Rookie of the Year during yesterday’s game between the Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres.
Despres, a native of Laval, QC and just two seasons removed from Saint John’s 2011 Memorial Cup winning campaign, spent the majority of last season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Pittsburgh’s American Hockey League affiliate.
The 6’4”, 214-pound defender was selected by the Penguins in the first round, 30th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He spent two more seasons with the Sea Dogs after being drafted, and breaking the professional ranks during the 2011-12 season with Wilkes-Barre. He played 44 games with the mini-Penguins, scoring five times and assisting on 10 others for 15 points. He also featured in 18 games for the NHL squad and had a goal and three assists.
This year, Despres has cracked the NHL full-time, playing in 31 games while chipping in two goals and five helpers for seven points. He carries a +9 differential and his solid play lent itself to a nod as the team’s Rookie of the Year.
Nathan Beaulieu received a similar honour, along with three other awards, when the Hamilton Bulldogs handed out their annual awards last weekend.
