The Penguins have made at least one change to their goaltending ranks.
Reserve goaltender Maxim Lagace has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Financial terms of the deal were not revealed.
Lagace, 28, joined the Penguins as a free agent signing in October of 2020, signing a one-year, two-way contract for a league minimum $700,000. Largely shuffled between the NHL roster, the taxi squad and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL), Lagace played in only one NHL game for the Penguins last season.
During the regular season finale May 8, Lagace (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) directed the Penguins to a 1-0 home win against the Sabres, recording his first career shutout by making 29 saves. In the process, he became the first player in Penguins history to record a shutout in his debut for the franchise.
With backup goaltender Casey DeSmith sidelined due to a groin injury, the left-handed Lagace served as the backup to starter Tristan Jarry for six games during the Penguins’ first-round loss to the New York Islanders in the postseason.
In nine games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Lagace had a 4-3-2 record along with a 2.30 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.
The Penguins’ goaltending position has been subject to ample speculation this offseason due to Jarry’s struggles in the postseason. General manager Ron Hextall has professed comfort with retaining Jarry and DeSmith entering the 2021-22 season.
But with Lagace’s departure, a void is created in net for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Beyond Jarry and DeSmith, the only other goaltender under NHL contract in the organization is mid-level prospect Alex D’Orio.
