Simon Despres has been returned to the minors. Despres has four points in 18 games with Pittsburgh this season. The Penguins' blueliners are getting healthy, which prompted this adjustment.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have called up Simon Despres. Despres has 11 points and 21 penalty minutes in 17 games with the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season. He was taken with the 30th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Simon Despres has been sent down to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Despres had seven points and 20 penalty minutes in 33 games last season. This is a surprising fall for Despres, who was called a top-four defenseman by Penguins coach Dan Bylsma in June.

Simon Despres has been dealing with an illness early in training camp. It has led some to believe that he was out of shape because he lagged behind in conditioning drills, but coach Dan Bylsma said that is not the case. "When we started camp, Simon was in a situation where I would say almost 100 percent of the time during the regular season he would not have practiced," Bylsma said. "He didn't want to take that out. to his credit, he battled through what was probably the toughest day. He got through Day One, and I'm pretty happy he did do that."

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma called Simon Despres a "top-four defenseman." Some might find this prognostication strange since Bylsma decided to scratch Despres in favor of marginal blueliners like Dave Engelland, but perhaps this is more of a long-term assessment. Of course, a potential different coach might feel more (or less) highly about Despres anyway, if a change comes to pass.

Simon Despres was a healthy scratch Tuesday. He played in three games against the New York Islanders in Round 1, but when the semifinals began against the Ottawa Senators he was sent to the press box. Despres sat in favor of Deryk Engelland, who plays a rugged style which matches the Senators' style much more.

Simon Despres skated alongside Kris Letang at Pittsburgh's morning skate Thursday, which indicates he will play in Game 5. If he does play then it looks like Mark Eaton will draw out of the lineup. Despres had a minus-2 rating against the New York Islanders in Game 3, which was his only other appearance of the series.

Simon Despres has been a healthy scratch for the past two games. Robert Bortuzzo has been playing on Pittsburgh's blueline in his place. "I have a lot of things to work on," Despres said. "I can still be better. I have to learn to do the simple things better." He is eager to get back into the lineup and vows to play better when he gets another opportunity.

Simon Despres has been recalled by Pittsburgh. He was sent down to the AHL on Tuesday because of Kris Letang's return to the lineup, but with Letang hurt again Despres will rejoin the team. In 24 games with Pittsburgh this year, he has seven points and a plus-10 rating.

Pittsburgh Penguins reassign Simon Despres to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Penguins have been carrying eight defensemen most of the season and recently acquired veteran blueliner Douglas Murray from San Jose. With Kris Letang on the verge of being activated from injured reserve, it looks like Despres was the odd man out.