Casey DeSmith is staying in Dallas, giving head coach Glen Gulutzan stability behind Jake Oettinger for the next three seasons.
The Stars signed DeSmith to a two-year, $5 million contract extension Wednesday, keeping the veteran goaltender under contract through the 2028-29 season.
The new deal carries a $2.5 million average annual value. DeSmith was positioned to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, but Dallas removed that question before opening night.
It's a clear commitment to the current tandem. Oettinger remains the starter, while DeSmith gives Gulutzan an established option for back-to-backs and nights when Dallas wants to manage Oettinger's workload.
General manager Jim Nill made it clear that retaining DeSmith had become a priority for the organization. Dallas now has its NHL crease mapped out well beyond the coming season.
DeSmith earned that security with a steady 2025-26 campaign. He appeared in 30 games and finished with a .907 save percentage, giving Dallas dependable work when Oettinger wasn't in net.
The 35-year-old also posted a 2.43 goals-against average and recorded 15 wins. That production gave the Stars enough confidence to avoid testing the backup-goalie market next summer.
Dallas locks down its goaltending plan
The timing matters. Dallas enters Gulutzan's second season with one fewer roster question hanging over the club, and the coaching staff knows exactly what it has behind its No. 1 goalie.
DeSmith is entering his third season with the Stars. His role isn't complicated: provide reliable starts, keep Oettinger fresh and give Dallas a chance when the schedule gets crowded.
There's also value in continuity inside the locker room. Changing backup goalies can create uncertainty, especially when a team expects to play meaningful hockey deep into the spring.
Dallas chose familiarity instead. DeSmith already knows the roster, the organization and the demands that come with playing behind a team carrying high expectations.
Career-wise, DeSmith owns a .910 save percentage across eight NHL seasons with Dallas, Pittsburgh and Vancouver. He has built a long track record as a dependable second option.
The extension means Dallas won't need to solve this position next offseason. Gulutzan has his tandem, Nill has cost certainty, and DeSmith has security through 2028-29.
For the Stars, this wasn't about changing the crease. It was about keeping a setup they already trust intact.
Did the Stars make the right call locking up Casey DeSmith for two more years?
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