The Pittsburgh Penguins have agreed to terms with backup goaltender Casey DeSmith on a new two-year extension, keeping him from hitting the open market. The contract will carry an average annual value of $1.8MM.
DeSmith, 30, has only ever known the Penguins organization and is one of the biggest success stories of the ECHL. Originally signed to a contract by the Wheeling Nailers as an undrafted free agent in 2015, he managed to quickly climb through every level and eventually made his NHL debut in the 2017-18 season. Since then, he’s been quite reliable for Pittsburgh, posting a .916 save percentage over 97 appearances at the highest level.
While he likely won’t be challenging for the starting role anytime soon, DeSmith represents a strong backup for Tristan Jarry and the Penguins, and essentially takes them out of the running for any other free agent goaltenders–at least the ones set to compete for NHL jobs. At just $1.8MM, he also comes in at a very reasonable price, potentially freeing up some space for the team to re-sign more important free agents, including Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.
Among goaltenders, DeSmith’s cap hit puts him 40th for the 2022-23 season, a ranking that will drop several more places once free agency opens later this month. Given the fact that Jarry carries just a $3.5MM hit, the Penguins will be getting pretty strong goaltending for a relatively low price.
NO to Fluery!!!! LOL
He could have done better on the open market.
Probably, but this is also a team with a whopping lot of guys who’ve played six or more seasons, and exclusively, for the Penguins. It’s pretty reasonable to think that there’s a strong culture of loyalty, players who like Pittsburgh just fine (heck, it IS a fine area in which to live), and that DeSmith is among them. Who’s to say he didn’t take a hometown discount?
Hometown discount that pretty much does lock out Flower, as @Johnny Z stated above. Unless, of course, the Pens get bit by the injury bug again and need somebody at the trade deadline.
Good cost-saving move for the Penguins. If they want to re-sign Letang and Malkin they need every nickel they can get.
Bob Nutting should be on speed dial for any nickel saving advise.
This is a move you make AFTER you sign the actual important players who matter.
DeSmith is OK, but he’s not good enough to be a 1B so his role could be filled for less than a million.
Well, sure; Pittsburgh COULD have brought in some mediocre journeyman at league minimum to turn in a mediocre journeyman-like season. But the guy who’ll be in your net 25-30 games is an “actual important player who matters.”
OK, but what about the part where DeSmith is himself a mediocre journeyman, too?
Guys who are just as good will sign for half as much.
The part where he isn’t one. C’mon, man, look at the numbers. .915 career save percentage, consistently above average in GSAA in each of his seasons. Comes up with the same numbers as a regular 1B or on spot duty. Show me ANYone in the league who’s that good who’s signed for half as much. (Hell, there are goalies in the league a good bit worse signed for several times as much.)
“Look at the numbers.”
I’ve seen probably every NHL game he’s ever played…
He has had 5 or 6 hot months over his multi year career that pad the numbers. He’s mediocre.
If Jarry goes down for the year in the first game, our season is over with DeSmith as the starter. No need to overpay for that.
There are some goalies with more upside (Lankinen for ex.) who will likely command similar money or just a bit more than what he got and other goalies just as good (Comrie for ex.) who will get 800K to 1 M.