Cam Talbot

Cam Talbot
Talbot with the New York Rangers in 2014
Born	(1987-07-05) July 5, 1987 (age 36) Caledonia, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
NHL team Former teams	Los Angeles Kings New York Rangers Edmonton Oilers Philadelphia Flyers Calgary Flames Minnesota Wild Ottawa Senators
National team	Canada
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2010–present

Cameron Talbot (born July 5, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators.

Before joining the NHL, Talbot played at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he was named an All-College Hockey America Second Team and MVP in the 2010 CHA tournament. Internationally, Talbot has represented Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Championship. ^{[1] [2]}

Playing career

Amateur

Cam Talbot grew up in Caledonia, Ontario, and started playing with the Caledonia Thunder MHA programs before joining the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs of the South Central AAA League in Minor Bantam. He played three seasons of AAA hockey, was undrafted in the 2003 OHL Priority Selection, and returned to the Jr. Bulldogs, where he played a season of Major Midget.

After a solid Major Midget season, Talbot made the Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) for the 2004–05 season.

Talbot played college hockey at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. ^[3] In the 2009–10 season, he was named to the All-College Hockey America Second Team and was called Most Valuable Player in the CHA Tournament, while leading the Chargers to a berth in the NCAA Tournament. ^[4]

Talbot with the Connecticut Whale in 2012

Professional

New York Rangers

On March 30, 2010, the NHL's New York Rangers signed Talbot as a free agent. ^[5] He was promoted to the Rangers on February 28, 2011, after playing the majority of the 2010–11 season with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL) (he also played two ECHL games with the Greenville Road Warriors) ^[6] and was returned to the Whale on March 3, 2011. ^{[7] [8]}

Talbot played the 2011–12 season with Connecticut, but after Connecticut was eliminated from the AHL playoffs, Talbot was added to the Rangers' Stanley Cup playoff roster. ^[9] After the 2012–13 Whale season, he was again added to the Rangers' playoff roster. ^[10] Talbot was again called up to the Rangers on October 15, 2013, after Martin Biron was demoted to the AHL, finding himself a place in the NHL for the first time as the backup to starter Henrik Lundqvist. ^[11] Talbot made his on-ice NHL debut on October 24 in a 2–1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. ^{[12] [13]} His first NHL win came in his next game, against the Detroit Red Wings, on October 26, 2013, ^{[14] [15]} and he earned his first NHL shutout against the Montreal Canadiens on November 16, 2013. ^[16] In the 2014 playoffs, Talbot twice entered to relieve Lundqvist en route to the Rangers' Eastern Conference title before ultimately falling to the Los Angeles Kings in the Finals. ^[17]

For the 2014–15 season, Talbot began the year as the Rangers' backup goaltender, and in his first eight games played, he recorded three shutouts, matching his total from the entire previous season.

On February 3, 2015, Talbot became New York's temporary starting goaltender after Henrik Lundqvist suffered a vascular injury in his neck area. Talbot started 24 of the Rangers' next 26 games (Mackenzie Skapski played the other two) until March 27, when Lundqvist returned to the line-up. During Lundqvist's absence, Talbot performed better in net and went 17–4–3. Talbot ended the season with a lower GAA (2.21), and a higher save percentage (.926) than Lundqvist (2.25 GAA, .922 save percentage). For his remarkable efforts towards New York's Presidents' Trophy-winning season, he received the Steve McDonald Extra Effort Award on April 6.

Edmonton Oilers

On June 27, 2015, Talbot was traded by the Rangers to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for three draft picks in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. ^[18] Talbot competed for Edmonton's #1 goaltender spot with Anders Nilsson during his first season with the Oilers. ^[19] On January 17, 2016, the Oilers signed Talbot to a three-year, $12 million contract extension. ^[20] Nilsson was eventually traded to the St. Louis Blues, leaving Cam Talbot as Edmonton's starting goaltender. ^[19] On April 6, 2017, Talbot set an Oilers record for most wins in a season passing Grant Fuhr, who had 40 wins, by earning 41 wins. ^[21] Talbot finished the season by leading the NHL in games played (72 of 82 in the regular season) and time on ice by a goaltender, as well as tied for first in wins with 42. The Oilers finished that season second in the Pacific Division, with 103 points. Talbot helped the Oilers reach Game 7 of the Western Semifinals, losing to the Anaheim Ducks in the first playoff appearance by the Oilers in ten years. Talbot finished the playoffs with a 2.88 GAA, a .924 save percentage, and two shutouts. ^{[22] [23]}

On October 4, 2017, Talbot recorded a 27-save shutout in the 2017–18 season-opener against the Calgary Flames. ^[24] Talbot and the Oilers would not be able to replicate the previous season's success, and missed the playoffs. Talbot finished the season with a 31–31–3 record with a goals-against-average of 3.02. ^[25] By 2018–19, his play had dipped again and he had been surpassed by Mikko Koskinen in the Oilers net. ^[26]

Philadelphia Flyers

On February 15, 2019, Talbot was traded by the Oilers to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for goaltender Anthony Stolarz. ^[27] Talbot had to waive his no-movement contract clause to be traded to the Flyers. Philadelphia acquired him to be both competition and a mentor to young goaltender Carter Hart and to replace Brian Elliott as backup. ^[28] However, his numbers did not improve with Philadelphia, which was one of the worst teams in terms of goals against. ^[29]

Calgary Flames

Talbot in net for the Calgary Flames in 2019.

On July 1, 2019, having left the Flyers as a free agent, Talbot was signed to a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Calgary Flames. On February 1, 2020, Talbot fought fellow goalie Mike Smith during a Battle of Alberta game. ^[30] During the COVID-19 pandemic and the NHL's return to play, Talbot backstopped the Flames to a 3–1 series win over the Winnipeg Jets including a game four shutout of the Jets, earning Talbot the nickname "Yes We Cam" Talbot. ^[31]

Minnesota Wild

On October 9, 2020, the opening day of free agency, Talbot left the Flames and agreed to a three-year deal worth $11 million to become the starting goaltender for the Minnesota Wild. ^[32] He recorded a 19–8–5 record during the regular season in his first campaign with the Wild, leading them to a playoff spot. However, the Wild were eliminated in the first round of the 2021 playoffs by the Vegas Golden Knights. ^[33] Talbot and young backup Kaapo Kähkönen played most of the 2021–22 season as the goalie tandem in Minnesota. However, the Wild traded out Kähkönen and acquired goaltender Marc-André Fleury at the trade deadline to improve their depth in goal. ^[34] The Wild played Fleury through most of the first round playoff loss to the St. Louis Blues. Fleury, a pending free agent, re-signed with Minnesota in the off-season, allowing Wild general manager Bill Guerin to make Talbot available for trade despite stating that he intended to keep Talbot. ^[35]

Ottawa Senators

On July 12, 2022, with a year remaining on his contract, Talbot was traded by the Wild to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Filip Gustavsson. ^[36] On December 12, 2022, Talbot got his first shutout with his new team, making 32 saves in a 3–0 win over the Anaheim Ducks. ^[37] On December 27, 2022 Talbot stopped 49 of 51 shots in a 3–2 shootout win over the Boston Bruins, ^[38] setting the Senators team record for saves recorded in a win. ^[39] However, Talbot suffered a sequence of injuries including a broken rib ^[40] and a lower-body injury that kept him out of the lineup for three weeks. ^[41] Despite plans by both Talbot and the Ottawa Senators for him to remain in Ottawa, a difference in contract length led Ottawa's general manager Pierre Dorion to announce in April 2023 that Talbot would not return with the team. ^[40]

Los Angeles Kings

As a free agent, Talbot was signed on the opening of free agency on July 1, 2023, to an incentive-laden one-year, $2 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings for the 2023–24 season. ^[42]

Personal life

Talbot married his wife Kelly in 2011, ^[43] and the two had twins in October 2016. ^[44]

Dating back to his time with the New York Rangers, Talbot has worn masks bearing characters and imagery from the Ghostbusters movies, painted by artist David Gunnarsson. ^{[45] [46]} This design also developed the goaltender's identity into being known as "Goalbuster."' ^[47]

International play

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing   Canada East
World Junior A Challenge
	2006 Yorkton
Representing   Canada
Ice Hockey World Championships
	2016 Russia

Talbot attended the 2016 IIHF World Championship as the starting goaltender for Team Canada. He led the team to its second straight gold medal at the tournament and tied a tournament record for shutouts with 4. ^[48]

Records

Edmonton Oilers

• Most wins in a season: 42 (2016–17)

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season										Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T/OT	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2004–05	Hamilton Red Wings	OPJHL		19	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Hamilton Red Wings	OPJHL		35	25	13	1	2,046	87	1	2.55	.908		14	8	6	903	52	1	3.46	.891
2006–07	Hamilton Red Wings	OPJHL		28	19	5	2	1,644	57	1	2.08	.918		19	13	6	1243	51	0	2.46	.923
2007–08	Alabama–Huntsville Chargers	CHA		13	1	10	0	583	45	0	4.63	.860		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Alabama–Huntsville Chargers	CHA		24	2	16	3	1,320	65	1	2.95	.907		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Alabama–Huntsville Chargers	CHA		33	12	18	3	1,958	85	1	2.61	.925		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		1	0	0	0	19	3	0	9.70	.727		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Hartford Wolf Pack / CT Whale	AHL		22	11	9	2	1,308	62	2	2.84	.902		1	0	1	38	2	0	3.13	.917
2010–11	Greenville Road Warriors	ECHL		2	1	0	1	122	5	0	2.46	.921		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Connecticut Whale	AHL		33	14	15	1	1,865	81	4	2.61	.913		9	5	4	571	20	2	2.10	.939
2012–13	Connecticut Whale	AHL		55	25	28	1	3,105	136	2	2.63	.918		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		5	4	0	1	314	13	0	2.49	.924		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	New York Rangers	NHL		21	12	6	1	1,211	33	3	1.64	.941		2	0	1	46	2	0	2.61	.846
2014–15	New York Rangers	NHL		36	21	9	4	2,095	77	5	2.21	.926		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		56	21	27	5	3,223	137	3	2.55	.917		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		73	42	22	8	4,294	171	7	2.39	.919		13	7	6	800	33	2	2.48	.924
2017–18	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		67	31	31	3	3,731	188	1	3.02	.908		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		31	10	15	3	1,695	95	1	3.36	.893		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		4	1	2	0	211	13	0	3.70	.881		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Calgary Flames	NHL		26	12	10	1	1,435	63	2	2.63	.919		10	5	4	596	24	2	2.42	.924
2020–21	Minnesota Wild	NHL		33	19	8	5	1,961	86	2	2.63	.915		7	3	4	416	17	2	2.45	.923
2021–22	Minnesota Wild	NHL		49	32	12	4	2,865	132	3	2.77	.911		1	0	1	58	4	0	4.14	.846
2022–23	Ottawa Senators	NHL		36	17	14	2	1,947	95	1	2.93	.898		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		54	27	20	6	3,116	130	3	2.50	.913		3	1	2	181	16	0	5.30	.861
NHL totals				486	245	176	42	27,782	1,220	31	2.63	.913		36	16	18	2,096	96	6	2.75	.915

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2006	Canada East	WJAC			4	3	1	0	240	7	0	1.75	.916
2016	Canada	WC			8	7	1	0	480	10	4	1.25	.940
Junior totals					4	3	1	0	240	7	0	1.75	.916
Senior totals					8	7	1	0	480	10	4	1.25	.940

Awards and honours

Award	Year	Ref
NHL
All-Star Game	2022, 2024	[49]
New York Rangers
Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award	2015	[50]

References

1. "Talbot helps rescue Alabama-Huntsville hockey program". NHL.com.
2. "2016 IIHF World Championships All-Star Team". The Hockey Writers. May 24, 2016.
3. "Talbot beat odds to get NHL contract". New York Rangers. June 18, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
4. "Cam Talbot". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
5. Rangers add free agent goalie Talbot – New York Rangers – News
6. "Premier 'AA' Hockey League | Five debuts give ECHL 520 players to reach NHL". The Echl. Archived from the original on November 7, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
7. "Goalie Talbot called up from Greenville". New York Rangers. February 28, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
8. "Johnson called up from Connecticut". New York Rangers. March 3, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
9. Gourlie, M. (May 15, 2012). "McIlrath added to Rangers playoff roster". Moose Jaw Times-Herald. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
10. "Rangers call up 10 players from Whale". New York Rangers. April 28, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
11. Cerny, Jim (October 15, 2013). "J.T. Miller and Cam Talbot Join Rangers". Blueshirts United. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
12. Cerny, Jim (October 23, 2013). "Wednesday Practice Report: Talbot In For Hurt Lundqvist In Philly". Blueshirts United. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
13. Wisniwski, M. (October 24, 2013). "Coburn's goal gives Flyers 2–1 win over Rangers". Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
14. "Brassard's OT goal gives Rangers win over Detroit". Associated Press. October 26, 2013. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
15. Leonard, P. (October 26, 2013). "Derick Brassard scores game-winning goal to lift NY Rangers past Red Wings". New York Daily News . Retrieved October 26, 2013.
16. Murphy, J. (November 17, 2013). "Talbot's shutout gives Rangers rare win in Montreal". NHL.com. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
17. "Rangers backup G Cam Talbot injured, out for Stanley Cup finals opener; untested Leneveu is in". Fox News. June 4, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
18. "Rangers trade Cam Talbot and Carl Hagelin". New York Post . June 27, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
19. McCurdy, Bruce (February 27, 2016). "Cult of Hockey: Trade confirmed -- Oilers deal Anders Nilsson to Blues for goalie prospect Niklas Lundstrom, 5th round pick". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
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21. McLaren, Ian (April 7, 2017). "Talbot sets Oilers' single-season wins record". thescore.com. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
22. "Edmonton Oilers Stats | 2016–2017".
23. Samboke (August 7, 2017), Top 10 Goalies Right Now , retrieved August 13, 2017
24. Gazzola, Paul (October 5, 2017). "Game Story: Oilers 3, Flames 0". NHL.com. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
25. Staples, David (April 8, 2019). "What went wrong with the Edmonton Oilers this year? Cam Talbot tops the list". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
26. Staples, David (February 15, 2019). "Cam Talbot traded to Flyers, Koskinen now king in Edmonton". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
27. "Oilers trade Talbot to Flyers for Stolarz". TSN . February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
28. Isaac, Dave (February 16, 2019). "Cam Talbot 'very open' to signing extension after Flyers traded for him". Courier Post. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
29. Spiegel, Jackie (July 1, 2019). "NHL free agency 2019: Flames, Oilers swap goalies as Cam Talbot, Mike Smith sign new deals". Sporting News. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
30. Brehm, Mike (February 2, 2020). "Goalies Mike Smith, Cam Talbot fight as Oilers-Flames rivalry heats up". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
31. "Flames sign Cam Talbot". Calgary Flames. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
32. "Wild signs goalie Cam Talbot to a three-year contract". Minnesota Wild. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
33. Cotsonika, Nicholas J. (May 29, 2021). "Wild ousted from playoffs due to injuries, scoring issues". NHL.com. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
34. Boylen, Rory (May 2, 2022). "Stanley Cup Playoffs Goalie Power Rankings: Who has the edge?". Sportsnet. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
35. Wyshynski, Greg (July 12, 2022). "Minnesota Wild deal disgruntled goaltender Cam Talbot to Ottawa Senators for Filip Gustavsson". ESPN.
36. "Ottawa Senators acquire goaltender Cam Talbot from Minnesota". Ottawa Senators. July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
37. "Talbot gets first shutout with Sens in win over Ducks". TSN. The Canadian Press. December 12, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
38. Desaulniers, Darren (December 27, 2022). "Talbot shines, DeBrincat settles it as Senators beat Bruins in shootout". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
39. Warne, Steve (December 28, 2022). "Looking Out For Number One: Cam Talbot's Record-Setting Night". Faces Magazine. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
40. Warne, Steve (April 18, 2023). "Cam Talbot Will Not Be Back in Ottawa Next Season: Now What?". The Hockey News. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
41. "Senators goalie Cam Talbot out three weeks with lower-body injury". CityNews. March 9, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
42. "Kings sign Goaltender Cam Talbot to one-year deal". Los Angeles Kings. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
43. "KELLY TALBOT – THE HARDEST JOB IN HOCKEY". yegfitness.ca. July 27, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
44. Tilley, Meg (October 19, 2016). "Two by two". NHL.com. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
45. Mizutani, Dane (January 16, 2021). "Wild goaltender Cam Talbot explains Ghostbusters mask design". Twin Cities.com. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
46. Clinton, Jared (October 5, 2016). "Oilers' Cam Talbot loads up the Ecto-1 on new Ghostbusters mask". The Hockey News on Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
47. "Talbot's new mask depicts his twins as 'Ghostbusters' cartoons". NHL.com. August 21, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
48. "Canada #1 at 2016 IIHF World Championship".
49. "2022 NHL All-Star Game rosters, captains announced". .nhl.com. January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
50. "Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award". NHL.com. Retrieved April 8, 2024.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Matt Read	CHA Most Valuable Player in Tournament 2010	Succeeded by award discontinued