12 For 12: Simon Despres

My whole goal with "12 For 12" was to check out 12 different prospects that could be available when Chuck Fletcher and Co. step up the the Podium in Montreal June 26th. Of the 12 I selected to profile, with the help of Max Giese, Director of Scouting for McKeen's Hockey, there will be some who would have to fall some to be around at 12, some are about in the right area, and some would be considered reaches- but this is the Draft, and not everyone sees the same thing.

I would like to mention how informative McKeen's 2009 Draft Guide is, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in this year's Draft.





Simon Despres
Defenseman, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
6'3" 205 lbs.

Despres was the 1st overall pick in the 2007 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Bantam Draft, and had 14 points in 64 games. His production increased this year, scoring 2 goals and adding 30 assists, while more than doubling his Penalty Minutes from 30 to 74.

What kind of player is Depres now, and ultimately what kind of player will he be long term, assuming he pans out?

Max Giese: He's a project, but if he pans out you're looking at a #3-4 defenseman that can play in all situations.

Besides his projectable frame and skating ability what else does he excel at?

Giese: Despres is a smooth, graceful skater but I would never say he can move like Niedermayer. When he's on his game he can excell at pretty much everything, but when he's off his game he can struggle at pretty much everything. He does have above average puck skills and offensive awareness.
He'll freelance with the puck at times, but he is consistent at reading the play and using his size and stick to gain an advantage- he'll have to work on his gap control and positioning to be successful at a higher level.



So he seemingly has all the tools; yet he struggled at the Under-18 Championships in Fargo, North Dakota. What happened, and how does this affect his stock?

Giese: His play the U-18's was very disappointing, in fact he was the biggest disappointment of the tournament. Both offensively and defensively he struggled. He was giving to large of gaps and wasn't playing physical, he was getting outworked in one-on-one confrontations. With the puck he skated himself into dead did have a bad U-18's, but Myers was filled to the brim with untapped potential. We were just seeing the beginning of him as a player, where as Despres is already physically mature and is much further along than Myers was at the same stage.
ends, he wasn't seeing the ice well, and most of all he seemed to go brain dead every time he was pressured. Even when he had time/space to opperate with he didn't manufacture anything on the points.


Tyler Myers had a pretty bad last year at the U-18's, and still went in the middle of the first round (Buffalo, 13th overall.) Is there any reason to believe that a bad showing here will cause his stock to fall?

Giese: Myers did have a bad U-18's, but Myers was filled to the brim with untapped potential. We were just seeing the beginning of him as a player, where as Despres is already physically mature and is much further along than Myers was at the same stage.


The Bottom Line: He's a project, but there's some tantalizing facets to his game; the size, the skating, the puck skills. Is he worth the 12th overall pick, especially after a horrendous showing in front of the scouting world in Fargo?