Després comes full circle on global hockey journey

What this means

NHL.com reported that 35-year-old defenseman Simon Després is returning to North America after signing with the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL. The former Pittsburgh first-round pick played 193 NHL regular-season games for the Penguins and Anaheim Ducks before a 2016 head injury ended his Ducks tenure, then continued his career in leagues across Europe and Australia, including championship seasons with Eisbären Berlin in 2021 and 2022. The Fort Wayne move is the latest step in his attempt to continue playing professionally closer to home.