After an unreal training camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins, News 88.9’s Sea Dogs play-by-play man Tim Roszell is reporting that Despres is heading back to Saint John. The Penguins play their season home opener on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
"He [played in Detroit] because this is the toughest decision -- keeping a guy vs. sending a guy back to junior, and is he going to possibly stay the nine games?" Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette yesterday.
Despres was held pointless in four pre-season games for Pittsburgh.
The defenseman lasted much longer at Pens camp than everyone had predicted, beating out several American Hockey League experienced players. He will no doubt get his shot at the NHL next year.
Despres is expected to be nothing less than a beast this season. He is all but guaranteed a job on Canada’s world junior team that will compete at the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships this holiday season in Buffalo, New York.
Last season, the 2009 Penguins first round pick scored none goals and added 38 assists in 63 games played.
There will be more to come when this announcement is made official.
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