The Fort Wayne Komets will be celebrating 75 years of professional during the 2026-27 season and it’s pretty clear they’d like to celebrate with a bang. The K’s made a big announcement Tuesday of some key signings for their upcoming season under Ben Boudreau, who returned to the club as its head coach after departing in 2023.
The club signed former Pittsburgh Penguins first-round pick Simon Després, now 35 with more than 600 professional games under his belt. Després returns to North America after spending most of the last nine seasons abroad.
Després was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NHL draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 6’4 defender played six seasons in the NHL with the Penguins and 49 games with Anaheim under head coach Bruce Boudreau.
The Laval, QC native has spent the last eight seasons playing… https://t.co/WuIW6qiqeZ pic.twitter.com/umUkvoh7ws
— Fort Wayne Komets (@FWKomets) August 4, 2026
Though he has played in many pro leagues, including 193 games in the NHL, Després has not yet played in the ECHL over the course of his career.
Selected 30th overall in 2009 by Pittsburgh, Després saw action with the Penguins and Anaheim Ducks over six seasons. While with the Ducks, he played under Ben Boudreau’s father, Bruce Boudreau.
The Laval, Quebec native spent most of last season in the EIHL with the Fife Flyers in Scotland. He finished the campaign with 11 points, but is only a year removed from one of his most productive seasons as a pro, having posted 29 points with the Glasgow Clan in 2024-25.
Després had a highly decorated career as a junior player, winning a QMJHL and Memorial Cup title with the Saint John Sea Dogs, and was named the league’s Defenseman of the Year in 2011. He was also a QMJHL all-rookie selection and represented Canada at the 2011 World Junior Championship, winning a silver medal.
The 6-foot-4 blueliner will bring a wealth of experience to a Fort Wayne team that always seems to be in the mix to contend for the Kelly Cup.
It’s not every day you see a former first-rounder with 200 games land in the ECHL, but Després appears to be looking for a chance to close out his career on a high note with some familiar faces around him.
The Komets will open their season on home ice against rivals Toledo Walleye on Oct. 17, which you can watch right here on FloHockey.
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