Stars Sign Casey DeSmith To Two-Year Extension

The Dallas Stars are keeping their goalie tandem intact for the next three years. The Stars announced they have signed netminder Casey DeSmith to a two-year, $5MM ($2.5MM AAV) extension.

DeSmith, 35, has been one of the league’s best backup goalies for the last few years. He first signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization in 2015 as a collegiate free agent from the University of New Hampshire. Despite starting with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers, DeSmith had become a regular fixture in the Penguins’ crease by the 2018-19 season.

After signing Alex Nedeljkovic earlier in the offseason, DeSmith became expendable. On August 6th, the Penguins traded DeSmith to the Montreal Canadiens in the three-team trade that landed Erik Karlsson in Pittsburgh. A few weeks later, the Canadiens traded DeSmith to the Vancouver Canucks for Tanner Pearson and a draft pick. He finished his lone season in Vancouver managing a 12-9-6 record in 29 games with an .895 SV% and 2.89 GAA.

DeSmith’s first time on the free agent market didn’t last long. The Stars quickly signed him to a three-year, $3.05MM contract on July 1, 2024. Throughout his first two years with the Stars, playing behind Jake Oettinger, DeSmith has managed a 29-16-8 record in 57 games with a .911 SV% and 2.50 GAA.

Although it’s only an extension for a backup netminder, Dallas is getting work out of the way early for next season’s salary cap table. The Stars will have a big decision to make regarding Jason Robertson’s future and will have to work out a new deal with defenseman Lian Bichsel. Still, even after signing DeSmith to the priciest contract of his career, the Stars will have nearly $27MM to lock up their core players next summer.