ANAHEIM, Calif. — Casey DeSmith has finally found an NHL home.
The Penguins signed their backup goaltender -- and before that, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's backup, and Wheeling's backup -- to a three-year contract extension, the team announced Friday just before taking the ice here at the Honda Center for their morning skate. The term runs through the 2021-22 season and has an average annual value of $1.25 million. DeSmith, 27, would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer.
"It's about determination," Jim Rutherford told me of DeSmith's rise. "You see a lot of guys who don't stick with it, and he's one of those who did. He overcame every hurdle, and he proved himself to us. We're very happy to see someone work his way up from Wheeling, then Wilkes-Barre and perform the way he did."
He apparently doesn't intend to change much. On the day the deal was announced, he stayed on the rink more than an hour extra to prepare for his presumed start Saturday night in Los Angeles.
"I'm really excited, so happy we were able to get something done and we were able to get some stability," DeSmith said upon finally coming off the ice. "It's been a long time coming for me. I've been all over the place in my career, so being able to sign an extension with the Penguins ... it's where I wanted to be. I love the guys. I love the staff. I love Pittsburgh."
Of his career surge, he remarked, "I definitely have to wake up every day and pinch myself. It's a privilege to come to the rink every day and get dressed next to these guys."
I asked if maybe he could set an example for others in the minors, most of whom don't stick it out once the NHL dream is gone, and his answer was terrific:
DeSmith has appeared in 26 games this season, with a 12-7-4 record, 2.47 goals-against average and .924 save percentage.
"He's deserving. We're thrilled for him," Mike Sullivan said. "He came up the hard way, and he's earned every opportunity. To get him under contract, we feel like we have two real good goalies and a good third one in Tristan Jarry, to help us win games."
Matt Murray will start tonight against the Ducks.
The odd man out in this equation, obviously, is now Jarry. And that eventually will mean literally out.
Jarry, 23, has a 2.80 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in Wilkes-Barre, both figures very much affected by porous defense in front of him, the result of multiple injuries on the blue line there. He was "our best goalie in training camp," Rutherford told me, adding that Jarry's waiver situation was the only reason he was sent out. Jarry didn't have to clear NHL waivers to be demoted, but Murray and DeSmith would have and certainly would have been claimed by another team.
"As time went on, Casey took the opportunity he had and moved past Jarry on our depth chart with his play at this level," Rutherford continued. "Jarry will have to clear waivers next season, so a decision will have to be made at that time."
Rutherford didn't state it explicitly, but he'll have to trade one. He'd never lose an NHL-level goaltender on waivers.
