Certainly, Cam Talbot could significantly benefit the Detroit Red Wings next season. He’s coming off an impressive all-star performance with the Los Angeles Kings. Talbot’s stats indicate that he will provide more consistency and reliability in goal compared to the goalies the team relied on last season.
Additionally, there’s the second year of Talbot’s two-year contract with Detroit. In the 2025-26 season, his role might be to mentor 2021 first-round pick Sebastian Cossa and prepare him for the challenges of being an NHL goaltender.
Congratulations to Cam Talbot on signing a mulit-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings!!! pic.twitter.com/Z2mj6h7sjo
— EDGE SPORTS MANAGEMENT (@EdgeSportsMngmt) July 2, 2024
Last season with the Kings, Talbot played in 54 games, posting a 27-20-6 record and earning a spot in the NHL All-Star Game as a Pacific Division selection. He had a .913 save percentage and a 2.50 GAA. In contrast, the Red Wings had a team save percentage of .897 and a GAA of 3.33.
“I think he’ll be an important part,” said Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman about Talbot’s expected contribution. “I can’t tell you how many starts they’re all going to get, but he had a very good year in Los Angeles.
“Two years ago in Ottawa he had some injuries, but his numbers have been very consistent.”
Talbot Ready To Compete For Red Wings Net
The 37-year-old goaltender has a career GAA of 2.63 and a save percentage of .914. Last season was the fourth time in his career that Talbot played over 50 games. Yzerman described the 6-foot-4, 200-pound goalie as “a really solid, big, competitive guy who’s had a relatively strong career.” He added, “I expect his save percentage to help reduce the number of goals against. As a team, we need to improve our play on that front. If we can slightly increase our overall goaltending save percentage, it should lead to fewer goals against.”
Red Wings Four Deep In NHL Goalies
This summer, Detroit is adding two veteran NHL goalies. The Red Wings are also signing Jack Campbell. He and Talbot join Alex Lyon and Ville Husso on the roster, giving Detroit four goalies with over 80 NHL games of experience.
With 486 NHL games under his belt, Talbot is ready to face the challenge. He welcomes the opportunity to compete for the net. “I’m sure there will be a good healthy competition come training camp,” Talbot said. “That internal competition always makes everybody better. I think that bringing in the guys that they brought in just drives everybody that much more.
“That’s a good thing for everybody.”
Make no mistake, Talbot’s goal in Hockeytown is to be the primary goalie for the Red Wings.
“Absolutely,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons why I chose to sign here. There’s gonna be competition no matter what between the three or four of us. I feel healthy and good even at my age.
“I played 54 games last year, made an All-Star appearance. And I still feel like I’ve got a lot to give. That’s one of the biggest reasons why I wanted a two-year deal—to come in and try to help a team win and still compete for starts. That’s a big factor for me coming in.”
Veteran Goalie Accepting Of Mentor Role
Talbot is aware that his days as a top NHL goalie are numbered, as goalies thriving in their late 30s are rare. Meanwhile, the Red Wings are looking ahead to 21-year-old Cossa, their 2021 first-round pick, as their future goalie, with his expected debut in the 2025-26 season, coinciding with the second year of Talbot’s contract with Detroit.
Cam Talbot is such an Yzerman signing. Cheap veteran goalie who has proven he can perform. For 2 years at 2.5 million AAV the perfect Bridge to Augustine and Cossa! #LGRW #NHLFreeAgency #Yzerman
pic.twitter.com/GHEdkxCOYX— Justin Satawa #14 (@14Satawa) July 1, 2024
Talbot is ready to embrace the role of mentor for Cossa. “I really enjoy it,” he said about working with young goalies. Reflecting on his own experience, he recalled the influence of Henrik Lundqvist and Marty Biron during his early days with the Rangers. Observing their daily routines and professionalism helped shape his approach to the game.
“You learn from watching a future Hall of Famer like Lundqvist,” Talbot said. “You absorb everything, integrate it into your game, and when you make it to the NHL, the real work begins. Now, being in a position to help young players as I was helped, it feels good to pass on that knowledge.”
Be the first to comment