Penguins Re-Sign Casey DeSmith to Multi-Year Deal

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall has pumped the brakes on the Marc-Andre Fleury reunion chatter. The Pens announced Tuesday the team has re-signed backup goaltender Casey DeSmith to a two-year contract. The deal is worth $1.8 million annually as the 30-year-old gets some job security.

A nice raise for DeSmith as he'll go into next season preparing to be the every day backup behind starter Tristan Jarry. He posted a .914 save % in 26 regular season games and played well in his one appearance during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Penguins are likely going to sign one more goaltender with a wealth of NHL experience as each and every year the injury bug chomps all over their roster. Management will be wise to pile up as much depth as possible. The DeSmith contract is one you could potentially still bury in the AHL if need be too, so this is a smart move by Hextall to start the offseason. It's just weird he's prioritizes where he has as he's been handing on contract extensions for months, yet Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin sit unsigned.

The move was a touch of a surprise as the Penguins have a ton of work on the go. Letang and Malkin are one order of business meanwhile Hextall and company have other holes to worry about up front. Rickard Rakell, Kasperi Kapanen, Evan Rodrigues and Danton Heinen all are in need of new contracts. The Penguins have roughly $21 million in cap space to work with after DeSmith signed on the dotted line.

Turns out more news could be on the way....

Source tells me Penguins and Kris Letang are close to a contract. I've got absolutely no detail beyond that, so don't ask. But source sure made it sound like it'll get done. And that it'll most likely be for three years. ... Again, it's all I've got.
— Dejan Kovacevic (@Dejan_Kovacevic) July 5, 2022