AnaheimDucks.com
An imposing figure on the ice, 6-foot-4, 218-pound defenseman Simon Despres is anything but that outside the rink. Soft-spoken and reserved, the 24-year-old finds enjoyment away from the game in the form of reading books and playing chess.
It’s been a year since he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Ben Lovejoy (March 2, 2015), and it’s been a challenging season for Despres after he missed three months with a concussion. He returned to the lineup on January 26, once again playing at a high level that had made him such a valuable part of an outstanding Ducks defensive corps.