Story Summary
Casey DeSmith has signed a two-year, $5 million contract extension with the Dallas Stars. The deal begins in 2027-28 and carries a $2.5 million average annual value.
The 34-year-old goaltender is entering the final season of the three-year, $3.05 million contract he signed with Dallas on July 1, 2024. He had been eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2027.
Dallas general manager Jim Nill said retaining DeSmith had been a priority, describing the goaltender as reliable and pointing to the continuation of his partnership with Jake Oettinger.
Key Facts
- Casey DeSmith signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Dallas Stars, beginning in 2027-28.
- The extension has a $2.5 million average annual value.
- DeSmith played 30 games, including 28 starts, last season and went 15-8-6 with a 2.43 goals-against average, a .907 save percentage and one shutout.
- His 30 appearances were his highest single-season total since he played 38 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2022-23.
- DeSmith owns a 99-69-29 regular-season record, a 2.74 GAA, a .910 save percentage and 13 shutouts in 220 NHL games with Pittsburgh, Vancouver and Dallas.
- In five Stanley Cup Playoff games, DeSmith is 1-2 with a 2.37 GAA and a .915 save percentage.
IHM Discussion
The extension settles DeSmith’s contractual position a year before he could have reached unrestricted free agency. It also formally keeps the Stars’ current goaltending tandem intact beyond the final season of his existing deal.
DeSmith’s value to Dallas last season was rooted in availability as well as his results. His 28 starts gave the Stars a substantial sample from their second goaltender, while his 2.43 GAA and .907 save percentage accompanied a 15-win campaign. For a club committing to continuity in net, those figures provide the direct performance basis for the new agreement.
Nill’s comments made the organisation’s thinking clear: Dallas sees DeSmith and Oettinger continuing as its tandem. The new deal does not begin immediately, but it removes the uncertainty that would otherwise have surrounded DeSmith’s status after this season.
Why It Matters
Goaltending stability is particularly useful when a club already has an established pairing. Dallas have committed to DeSmith before his contract year plays out, preserving a goaltender who handled 30 games last season and has accumulated 220 regular-season NHL appearances.
The agreement also gives DeSmith clarity ahead of the season, rather than leaving his next contract unresolved until the summer. For Dallas, it keeps a proven option alongside Oettinger for two further seasons from 2027-28.
IHM Market Outlook
The financial terms are clear: two years at a $2.5 million average annual value, for a total value of $5 million. The contract begins after DeSmith completes the final year of his current three-year, $3.05 million agreement.
By signing now, Dallas have avoided allowing DeSmith to reach the unrestricted free-agent market on July 1, 2027. The move is a completed extension, not a pending negotiation or reported interest.
Mini Q&A
How much is Casey DeSmith’s new Stars contract worth?
The two-year contract is worth $5 million and carries a $2.5 million average annual value.
When does DeSmith’s extension begin?
It begins in 2027-28, after the final season of his current contract with Dallas.
What were DeSmith’s numbers last season?
He went 15-8-6 in 30 games, with a 2.43 GAA, .907 save percentage and one shutout.
Coach Mark Comment
A dependable second goaltender can make a meaningful difference across an NHL schedule, and DeSmith’s 28 starts last season show that Dallas trusted him with a real workload rather than occasional relief duty. Keeping the same tandem allows the club to retain familiarity in how starts are shared, while DeSmith’s extension recognises the reliability highlighted by Jim Nill.
What Comes Next
The Stars are scheduled to open their season against the St. Louis Blues on Friday. DeSmith enters that campaign in the final year of his current contract, with his new two-year deal set to begin next season.
IHM Final View
Dallas have acted early to keep Casey DeSmith in place. His new contract is built on a 15-win season, a significant workload behind Oettinger and the organisation’s stated desire to maintain its established goaltending tandem.