Penguins sign Simon Despres to entry-level contract
by FrankD on Oct 8, 2009 10:27 AM EDT
in Pittsburgh Penguins Prospects
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This one broke during the game last night but I figured it could wait till the morning:
The Penguins have signed first-round draft pick Simon Depres to a three-year, entry-level contract. An 18-year-old defenseman, Depres will continue to play with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Penguins were pleased with his performance during training camp, but Depres is considered around three years away from joining the Penguins.
If you had a chance to catch preseason play than you likely saw Despres in action. I think signing him to an entry-level deal is a no-brainer. The kid showed some poise out there for a rookie. He threw his body down to block a shot or two and showed some decent chemistry with Kris Letang as his defensive partner. There's no question that the Pens are hoping this guy can step in as a big blue liner for the Pens in the future. Right after he got drafted up in Montreal I asked him what he most needed to work on and improve if he wanted to make the NHL. He said he had to start shooting more and gaining more confidence in his shot. No complaints here.
Not that he could've really done much to help the Penguins' scoring issues against the Coyotes last night. No one can get it going when it feels the PK is getting more ice time than your top line.
But enough of that. Flyers tonight. More to come later today.
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Dear Tribune-Review, it’s Despres, and he looks like character from a mobster movie!
PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 Minutes for Excessive Stanley Cup Raising.
by Lavender on Oct 8, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well you know, newspapers are the resourceful, all-knowing centers for accurate information. To change the spelling just to maintain the integrity of this blog would be unethical.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
by FrankD on Oct 8, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Misspelling a name three times in the same paragraph? I always kind of thought the Trib was a rag, but this pretty well confirms it. It’s not like there are transliteration issues to deal with here.
by JustinM on Oct 8, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not a contract expert, but did the Pens have to do this? Could they have waited until he left juniors and just signed him before he played with the Baby Pens?
by RCheli on Oct 8, 2009 11:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That’s what I was thinking too, RCheli….The timing of this is curious. I can’t imagine the Pens would sign Despres after already sending him back if it wasn’t advantageous (i.e. doesn’t count against his years towards UFA or decrease his # of years as a pro on his entry level contract).
They must have had some good reason to sign him now, I just don’t know what it is. Maybe a lawyer-y type or a CBA expert might.
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 8, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A “bonafide” offer must be made within the first year in order to retain the players rights up to the second June 1st following the draft of the player. If he does not play up to ten games his 3 year entry level contract will be pushed back a year for up to two years. Plus as the age of the player goes up the duration of the entry level contract goes down.
by PensFan024 on Oct 8, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gotcha, that makes sense. So the clock really isn’t ticking on Despres until he finishes his junior career, which is good (and kinda obvious in retrospect).
I know that must not apply for NCAA players, since signing a professional contract would erase their remaining college eligibility. I believe in those cases teams have 1 year after the player graduates to sign him, if I’m not mistaken.
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 8, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They have to make a “bonafide” offer to retain his rights. That does not mean they player has to sign at that time.
by PensFan024 on Oct 8, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fair enough, mr expert!
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 8, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
More insight like that and we may have to start calling him “The old 0-2-4er.”
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
by FrankD on Oct 8, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This one broke during the game last night but I figured it could wait till the morning
Why? We could’ve used the wake up call during the game.
by SlayerGhaleon on Oct 8, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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