DeSmith was a pending unrestricted free agent after finishing up a three-year deal with a $1.25 million cap hit that he signed with the Penguins in the middle of the 2018-19 season. An undrafted player, he has been in the organization since 2015, although he didn't get an NHL contract until 2017 after working his way up through the Wheeling Nailers and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
DeSmith, 30, played in 26 games for Pittsburgh in 2021-22, going 11-6-5 with a 2.79 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and three shutouts.
The biggest question about DeSmith has become his durability and health, he has required core muscle surgeries in May 2022 and May 2021 towards the end of the season. 2021-22 started off poorly, but DeSmith dine a fine job handling the starts when Tristan Jarry got hurt, right up until the point where DeSmith got injured himself.
