Should The Blackhawks Sign This Goaltender?
Heading into free agency, the Blackhawks do not have a goaltender under contract for the 2022-2023 season. With this upcoming free agent class having quite a few above average goalies, which goalie should Kyle Davidson target?
One name that would make the most sense for the Blackhawks is Casey DeSmith. This past season with Pittsburgh, DeSmith started 24 games in the crease, posting a .914 save percentage and 2.79 goals against average. In the playoffs this season, DeSmith started 1 game, making 48 saves on 51 shots faced. DeSmith is coming off a 2-year contract with a cap hit of $675,000. What will DeSmith's next contract look like, and should the Blackhawks pursue him?
DeSmith's season totals were better than any goalie the Blackhawks threw in the net. We know the defense didn't do them any favors, but a new head coach with a proven system would provide more stability and make life easier on the goaltenders. While DeSmith's numbers may not jump off the page, he is the definition of a consistent goaltender. Of all 50 qualifying goaltenders from this season, DeSmith ranks 28th in goals against average and 18th in save percentage. Over his 4 seasons in the league, DeSmith has a career goal against average of 2.67 and a save percentage of .915. If DeSmith reaches the open market, he could expect a bump in AAV to roughly $2-3 million a season. This number may seem a little steep for a career backup goalie coming off a career low season, but he has proven to be talented enough to turn it around.
DeSmith is also only 30 years old, which could provide the Blackhawks with a few different scenarios. He could be a «bridge goalie» who can hold down the fort until coveted goalie prospect Drew Commesso could be ready or to another goalie who could be a little younger or more skilled when the rebuild is over. With his career numbers, he could also be the perfect guy to lead a rebuild in net. He will keep a young team in games, allowing them to play in some high-pressure situations, which would be very valuable for a large group of young talent. DeSmith could also get back to his game, which could create a very lucrative trade market filled with contenders who are looking for stability in goal. I think this would be another low-risk high-reward signing the Blackhawks could make this offseason.
Keep in mind that Corey Crawford was 31 years old in 2015 when he won his 2nd Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks. Next year's free agent goalie class is quite underwhelming, and any other high-end goalie in this class will likely be out of the Blackhawks price range. If DeSmith can get back to the level he played at earlier in his career, he would give the Blackhawks some much needed stability in net, allowing them to utilize the salary cap space elsewhere to fix other glaring holes on the roster. What do you guys think? Would Casey DeSmith be a good pickup for the Blackhawks?
| POLL | ||
JUIN 2 | 78 ANSWERS Should The Blackhawks Sign This Goaltender? Should the Blackhawks try to sign Casey DeSmith? | ||
| Yes, he would be a solid starter | 41 | 52.6 % |
| No, let one of the rookies play | 37 | 47.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
