Casey DeSmith signs two‑year, $5M contract extension with Stars

The Dallas Stars have locked up their goaltending tandem for the near future, signing backup goalie Casey DeSmith to a two-year, $5-million contract extension, the club announced Wednesday. The deal runs through the 2028-29 season and keeps DeSmith in place behind established starter Jake Oettinger.

By extending DeSmith, the Stars now have both of their primary netminders under contract for several years. Oettinger is already signed through the 2032-33 campaign, and DeSmith’s new agreement provides at least three more seasons of continuity in goal. The move reduces uncertainty at a critical position and lessens the need to search for veteran support on the open market in the short term.

Nill highlights DeSmith’s reliability in goal

General manager Jim Nill emphasized how important it was for the organization to keep DeSmith in the fold. In a statement, Nill said that extending the veteran “has been a priority” and added that the Stars are excited to have him signed for two more years. He praised DeSmith’s reliability and pointed to the tandem of DeSmith and Oettinger as a key pillar for the team going forward.

DeSmith, 35, is heading into his third season with Dallas. Last year, he appeared in 30 games, earning 15 wins while posting a .907 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average. Those numbers underline his ability to provide steady work in a backup role, giving the coaching staff confidence when turning to him in spot starts or during busy stretches of the schedule.

Veteran experience anchors Stars’ depth chart

Originally from Rochester, N.H., DeSmith brings eight NHL seasons of experience to the Stars’ crease. Over his career with Dallas, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks, he has compiled a .910 save percentage and 2.74 GAA. That track record gives Dallas a proven option behind Oettinger whenever injuries, fatigue or scheduling demands require a second starter.

With this extension, the Stars solidify a goaltending structure built around Oettinger as the long-term No. 1 and DeSmith as a trusted veteran backup. The arrangement should help manage Oettinger’s workload over the length of his contract while maintaining a consistent standard of play in net during the grind of the regular season.