The Vancouver Canucks added depth to goaltender position on Wednesday by acquiring veteran goalie Casey DeSmith in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens.
The Canadiens will receive forward Tanner Pearson and a third-round pick in 2025 in exchange for DeSmith.
DeSmith will be leaving the Canadiens without playing a single game with the franchise. The Montreal team acquired the 32-year-old in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins back in August.
During his five years with the Penguins, DeSmith played in 134 games, including 115 starts. He posted a record of 58-44-15 with a .912 save percentage and a 2.81 goal-against average.
The Canucks likely made a deal for DeSmith to provide injury-prone starter Thatcher Demko with a capable veteran backup. They also get some salary cap flexibility by moving Pearson’s contract, which pays the 31-year-old player $4.2 million in full salary.
It remains to be seen how Pearson fits into the Canadiens’ plans. Injuries limited him to only 14 games and five points in 2022-23. However, he is a proven leader and someone who can provide mentorship to the young Canadiens team. It won’t be a surprise if Pearson manages to bounce back in Montreal and deliver a solid campaign this upcoming season.
