Apparently the Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t want to wait to see if Antti Niemi cleared waivers or not. The team has recalled goaltender Casey DeSmith, and placed Carter Rowney on injured reserve to make room. Niemi was placed on waivers today after allowing seven goals on 32 shots.
DeSmith, 26, has slowly worked his way to the NHL through every level. Starting undrafted out of the USHL, he attended the University of New Hampshire where he dominated, helping to turn the program around and recording three straight years with a save percentage of at least .920. After being arrested for domestic assault in 2014, DeSmith was suspended for his entire senior year at UNH, and would go unsigned by any NHL team.
He’d sign a minor league deal with the Penguins in 2015, and started to work his way up through the organization. Recording solid numbers in two seasons, he earned a two-year, two-way NHL contract this summer and has been outstanding with a .965 save percentage through three games. While it’s unlikely that he’ll make a ton of starts for Pittsburgh, the team is tied for the most back-to-back matchups this season, and will need a backup goaltender to step in from time to time. If DeSmith falters, Tristan Jarry is waiting in the wings to take his place.
So, he’s Joe Mixon on ice?
He might just be a warm body. If Niemi were claimed (fingers crossed, George McPhee) off waivers, the Pens would need a backup for tomorrow night’s game.
But, actually bringing him up to actually be the backup instead of Tristan Jarry makes no sense. The Pens have kind of proved that you can’t just throw anyone into the net and expect to win.
It does make some sense. Why bring up Murray, a young guy with potential, when you can bring up a guy like DeSmith. Same situation with Matt Murray, Fleury, and Zatkoff a few years back.
Speaking of Zatkoff…Isn’t he a free agent?
It’s call GOOGLE. No he’s under contract for LAK
It’s supposed to say Jarry in the second sentence, phone autocorrected it.
You don’t bring Jarry up to play once every week or so. Let him continue to develop in the minors. It’s like calling up a top prospect in baseball only to have him sit the bench.