SIGNING: Simon says yes to Clan

 The Glasgow Clan are delighted to announce the signing of experienced defenceman Simon Després for the 2024/25 campaign.

He joins the club after a season with Nottingham Panthers and will bolster the blue line options for head coach Corey Neilson.

The 32-year-old spoke of his excitement at joining his new club and is already looking ahead to wearing purple.

“I am really excited to be joining the Clan,” he said. “I was pleased when Corey reached out to me and let me know of his interest in me as a player.

“I figured if he is half as decent a person as his son Logan, who was my team-mate in Nottingham, I knew he would be a quality person to work with.

“I feel like in terms of hockey I have a lot to learn from Corey and that intrigued me when it came to deciding on the move.

“As for Glasgow as a city, I love to explore new parts of the world so it definitely appealed to me to come to Glasgow, learn about the culture and go for hikes in the Highlands.

“I have some unfinished business in the EIHL and want to win it all this upcoming season. Anything less will not be satisfying to me.”

Després made 44 appearances for the Panthers last season, scoring twice and helping with a further 10 goals after joining Jonathan Paredes’ men.

Prior to that he played in Austria with Villacher, spent two years in Germany in the DEL with Eisbären, winning two league titles as well as spells in the SHL with Oskershamn, and in the KHL with Slovan Bratislava.

The Canadian blue liner also played over 200 games in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he could call Sidney Crosby and Yevgeni Malkin team-mates, as well as icing for the Anaheim Ducks.

Plus he made almost 150 appearances in the AHL with Pittsburgh’s affiliate, Wilkes-Barre Scanton Penguins, reaching the Conference Finals in 2014.

Clan coach Corey Neilson saw a lot of Després last season and was impressed with what he brought to the Panthers side.

“I had the opportunity to watch most of Simon’s games last season as he was playing with my youngest son, Logan”, he said.

“He came in midway through the season and struggled to get to his top level fitness, but showed his high pedigree as the incredibly talented player which his resume reflects.

“He made the game look very easy at times with his high hockey IQ and his passing ability, and was adored by his team-mates.

“Simon has an innate love for the game of hockey and a desire to be one of the premiere defensemen in the league.”

Després will wear the #4 jersey for the Clan next season.