Despres hopes to return soon, but where?
-
Simon Despres
Share with others:
It was difficult not to notice Simon Despres' pronounced limp as he left Penguins practice Thursday and headed for the training room at Consol Energy Center.
The way things have been going for the Penguins the past couple of years, there no doubt were strong concerns for this promising rookie defenseman, who just this week returned to practice as he recovers from a knee injury.
- Game: Jets at Penguins, 2 p.m.
- TV: Root Sports
Fifteen minutes later, though, Despres' teammates expressed their relief with a chorus of whoops and stick-tapping when he returned to practice. It turned out Despres had been as anxious as they were, at least for a few minutes
"I tweaked it pretty bad," he said after he was able to finish practice. "I went to see the doc and just checked it. Everything was good, so I came back.
"It's a little bit sore, so we'll see how it feels after [last night]."
Until that incident, it appeared Despres might be ready to play as soon as a home game Saturday against Winnipeg, assuming he is still on the NHL roster then.
If this was a setback from the sprain he got Jan. 10 when he went hard into the boards attempting to check Ottawa's Kaspars Daugavins, it was not a major one or anything unprecedented.
"It was very frustrating, but [the doctor] said it was normal, part of [the recovery process]," Despres said.
Before he got hurt, Despres had played in 14 games over two call-ups. He had one power-play goal and three assists while being handed increasing amounts of responsibility and ice time.
In terms of potential, Despres, 20, represents a solid piece of the Penguins future. What is not known is whether that will be the near future or something a little further out.
With seven healthy defensemen -- a rarity this season -- Ben Lovejoy and Deryk Engelland lately have been competing for the final lineup spot each game.
Despres, when he is ready to come off injured reserve, would give the Penguins eight defensemen. That, almost surely, is more than they are willing to carry on their 23-man NHL roster for a significant stretch of time.
Throw in the fact Despres is the only one who does not have to clear waivers to be sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and the Penguins likely will have little choice but to assign him to their American Hockey League team.
First Published February 10, 2012 12:00 am
