Penguins sign DeSmith to 3-year extension

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith has signed a three-year contract extension, general manager Jim Rutherford announced Friday. The deal is worth an average of $1.25 million annually and begins with the 2019-20 season. “Since joining the Penguins’ organisation, Casey has excelled for us at every level, first in Wheeling and Wilkes-Barre /Scranton, and now here in Pittsburgh,” Rutherford said in a team statement.

“We’re pleased to have him signed with our organisation for the next three-and-a-half seasons.”

DeSmith played his first two NHL seasons on an AHL deal before Pittsburgh signed him to an NHL contract on July 1, 2017. In 26 games this season, the 27-year-old has a 2.47 goals-against average and a.924 save percentage, and he has a 12-7-4 record, including two shutouts. Overall, he is 18-115 with a 2.45 goals-against average and.923 save-percentage with three career shutouts.

DeSmith made his NHL debut in at loss at Winnipeg on October 29, 2017, and recorded his first win in his first NHL start on January 18, 2018, in Los Angeles in a 3-1 win vs. the Kings. DeSmith recorded his first career shutout in the Penguins’ regular-season finale vs. Ottawa. He recorded 35 saves in the 4-0 win over the Senators.

COYOTES ACQUIRE C WEAL FROM FLYERS

The Arizona Coyotes acquired center Jordan Weal from the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Jacob Graves and a draft choice, the team announced on Friday. Weal, 26, had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 28 games for the Flyers this season. Overall, Weal has 19 goals and 23 assists (42 points) in 134 career NHL games with the Los Angeles Kings and Flyers. Graves, 23 had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 32 games this season for Norfolk of the East Coast Hockey League this season. The draft pick headed to Philadelphia is a sixth-rounder in 2019.