Oilers Re-Sign Cam Talbot

The Edmonton Oilers have invested once again in Cam Talbot. On Sunday morning, the Oilers re-signed the goalie to a three-year contract worth $12.5 million. With a cap hit of $4.125 M per year, the Oilers are giving Cam Talbot a starter’s contract and entrusting him with the top job. This comes after the team moved three draft picks for Talbot back at the entry draft in June.

The Numbers:

On the season, Talbot has a record of 8-13-3 with a GAA of 2.58 and a SV% of .914, average numbers for an NHL goalie. That said, after a tough end to October and a rough month of November, Talbot has turned things around and been Edmonton’s top dog, no debate. In his last ten starts, he’s posted a .941 SV%, he’s been Edmonton’s best player by a long shot in that stretch.

Talbot certainly looks like an NHL starter as of late.

Some Thoughts:

The Oilers are making a bet here, but to me it looks like a solid bet. Talbot struggled in late October and through the month of November, but he’s been sensational in December and January. Talbot is a guy that usually starts slow anyways, so it’s possible that his recent play is much closer to the guy that he really is.

Talbot is getting comfortable with this team and is settling in, that’s very important. He doesn’t need to post a .941 SV%, that’s unsustainable, but if he can give Edmonton slightly above average goaltending through the end of the year and through this contract, he’ll be worth it.

I know people are unhappy about the money, but in reality it’s fair market value. Starting goalies in the NHL usually make around $4 million, so if Edmonton believes in Talbot then this is a solid contract.

Personally, I’m not 100% sold on Talbot as an NHL starter. He’s a slow to start guy and we haven’t seen him take the reigns just yet. That said, his slow starts usually lead to very strong stretches of play, and we are seeing that right now. If that stretch was just him getting settled, then maybe the Oilers made the right call here.

It’s also worth noting that if Edmonton were to go in a different direction, they would again be looking at taking a risk. There is no real, proven starter on the market this year, only guys like Talbot who have some potential but have never been true starters. There was no real improvement out there and that’s a fact.

I’ll take the risk with Cam Talbot, his recent stretch shows very well and he’s coming around to where Edmonton needs him to be, slightly above average.

If he can post around a .920 SV% during this contract, then Edmonton will be just fine. It’s a risk by Peter Chiarelli, but it’s a reasonable one.

Now, we’ll get to see the goalie (Talbot) grow with the team.