"Since joining the Penguins' organization, Casey has excelled for us at every level, first in Wheeling and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and now here in Pittsburgh," Rutherford said. "We're pleased to have him signed with our organization for the next three-and-a-half seasons."
DeSmith, 27, has been in the Pittsburgh organization for the past four seasons and at the NHL level for parts of the past two seasons. He has enjoyed a strong first half of the season accumulating 12 wins and two shutouts in 22 games. His 2.47 goals-against average and .924 save-percentage rank 13th and ninth in the league, respectively. From October 11-27, DeSmith registered a career-high-tying four-game unbeaten stretch, going 2-0-2. He went 8-3-1 from November 21 through December 31, 2018 to help the Penguins get back on track at the end of 2018. Over the course of his NHL career, DeSmith is 18-11-5 with a 2.45 goals-against average and .923 save-percentage with three career shutouts.
After playing his first two seasons in the organization on an AHL deal, the Penguins signed DeSmith to an NHL contract on July 1, 2017. The 6-foot, 181-pound goaltender made his NHL debut in relief on October 29, 2017 in Winnipeg and recorded his first win in his first NHL start on January 18, 2018 in Los Angeles in a 3-1 win. DeSmith stopped 35 shots to record his first career shutout in the 2017-18 regular-season finale against the Ottawa Senators.
Prior to joining Pittsburgh, the Rochester, New Hampshire native spent parts of three seasons with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. In 2016-17, his 2.01 goals-against average was the lowest in the AHL, and combined with Tristan Jarry posted the lowest GAA in the AHL, earning them the Harry "Hap" Holmes Award. While splitting time between Pittsburgh and WBS last season, DeSmith was named to the Atlantic Division AHL All-Star Team for the 2018 AHL All Star Classic.
