The Dallas Stars have secured their crease depth, signing Casey DeSmith to a two-year extension worth $5 million. The deal begins next season and carries a $2.5 million average annual value.
DeSmith, 34, is heading into the final year of the three-year, $3.05 million contract he signed with Dallas on July 1, 2024. Without the new agreement, he would have been eligible to reach unrestricted free agency on July 1, 2027.
Quick facts
- DeSmith’s extension runs for two seasons beginning in 2026-27.
- The contract has a total value of $5 million and a $2.5 million cap hit.
- He went 15-8-6 in 30 appearances for Dallas last season.
- Dallas opens its season Friday against the St. Louis Blues at 9 p.m. ET.
Dallas general manager Jim Nill said keeping DeSmith in the fold was an organizational priority. Nill pointed to the goaltender’s consistency and said DeSmith and Jake Oettinger will remain the tandem the Stars expect to lean on in the seasons ahead.
DeSmith appeared in 30 games last season, drawing 28 starts. He posted a 2.43 goals-against average, a .907 save percentage and one shutout while finishing with a 15-8-6 record.
It marked DeSmith’s busiest regular season since 2022-23, when he played 38 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins. His workload in Dallas gave the Stars a dependable second option behind Oettinger through the grind of the schedule.
Originally signed by Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent on July 1, 2017, DeSmith has played 220 NHL regular-season games with the Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and Stars. He owns a career record of 99-69-29, with a 2.74 GAA, .910 save percentage and 13 shutouts.
In five Stanley Cup Playoff appearances, including three starts, DeSmith is 1-2 with a 2.37 GAA and .915 save percentage.
The Stars begin their season Friday night against the Blues. Puck drop is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET, with TNT, truTV and HBO Max carrying the game.
