DeSmith's Consistency Breeds Success
By
Mark Madden / WXDX-FM
Between those times, the undrafted DeSmith took the path less travelled. Included was a stop in Wheeling, W. Va., the Penguins' ECHL affiliate - where DeSmith sat on the bench (or in the press box) for four months. Not many big-league goalies started their pro careers as a healthy scratch at hockey's AA level.
But now DeSmith is in the NHL, and making the most of it so far.
"I've taken pride in being Mr. Consistent," said DeSmith, 26. "If you look at my numbers in college and Wheeling - when I actually played - and then that jump to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton [in the American Hockey League], my numbers are pretty consistent the whole way through."
DeSmith isn't exaggerating.
In the four seasons covering his last year at New Hampshire and the current campaign (split between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Pittsburgh), DeSmith's goals-against at every stop has been between 1.94 and 2.55, his save percentage between .915 and .926.
This season with the Penguins, DeSmith's goals-against is 2.08 and his save percentage .927. DeSmith really is Mr. Consistent.
The problem was getting a chance. Smith was undrafted. He had to begin at one of pro hockey's lowest rungs, the ECHL.
Even there, Smith's start was excruciatingly slow.
Penguins goaltending coach Mike Buckley was DeSmith's goalie coach at New Hampshire. Buckley then became goaltending development coach for the Pens' organization. Wheeling signed him in 2015 at Buckley's recommendation.
But it took DeSmith four months to actually play in a game for the Nailers.
"It was a struggle, for sure," DeSmith said. "People probably don't know about my time down there. It's the low minors. Nobody pays attention.
"But I had a tough time [in Wheeling]. We had three goalies. I didn't play a game for the first four months. So it was tough just getting my foot in the door. Gaining the coach's confidence enough for him to actually play me.
"That's tough for any player: To go somewhere and practice every day and not get a chance to play. That's why we play, to play in games."
Wheeling's other goaltenders in 2015.16 were Brian Foster and Franky Palazzese. Both are out of pro hockey. Palazzese runs a goaltending school.
DeSmith finally got his chance in Wheeling that season, playing 13 games and posting a 2.55 goals-against and a .915 save percentage.
DeSmith impressed so much that before season's end, he got called up to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, playing six regular-season games and nine playoff tilts. The Baby Penguins got eliminated by Hershey in the second round.
DeSmith was solid in the AHL. He got regular work since arriving, and his goals-against averages in his three AHL seasons are 1.94, 2.01 and 2.53. DeSmith made the AHL's all-rookie team in 2016-17.
DeSmith was summoned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton not long before the 2016 AHL post-season, and thinks that helped.
"I came up right before the playoffs, and [Tristan] Jarry was up with the Penguins at that point, so I was thrown right into the fire, with three games in three nights," DeSmith remembered. "That's very tough for a goalie, especially at the professional level.
"So getting thrown into the fire and not having any time to think was huge. I elevated my game, similar to how I have here lately.
"Then the playoffs started, and playoff hockey is unlike any other hockey: It's faster-paced and more intense.
"So the situations I got thrown into there, with three-in-three and then the playoffs, forced me to elevate my game and have more focus."
Now DeSmith is in the big time. Is the NHL what he thought it would be?
"It's better, for sure," DeSmith said. "I always wanted to grow up and play in the NHL. At a certain point I thought I wouldn't. At Wheeling, when I wasn't playing, the NHL seemed so far away.
"For me to actually find myself up here playing games and winning games - it's better."
Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).
