Talbot Red Wings Best Offseason Addition

Certainly, the July 1 announcement that Cam Talbot would be joining the Detroit Red Wings wasn’t exciting the team’s fanbase. Adding a journeyman goalie to the roster rarely does elicit much in the way of moving the needle.

However, 11 games into the 2024-25 NHL season, there’s no debating as to which player is proving to be the most valuable to the team among the newcomers.

It’s Talbot in a landslide.

Vladimir Tarasenko has been okay. Tyler Motte’s been injured. And Erik Gustafsson is a frightening turnover machine.

Talbot has proven to be nothing short of sensational.

Cam Talbot is making big stops early in this one! 🐙 pic.twitter.com/hUe4VUFFdy

— NHL (@NHL) November 2, 2024

He was definitely that again on Saturday. Turning aside 30 shots, including some specacular, acrobatic stops during the first period as the Red Wings were finding their legs, Talbot was backstopping Detroit to a 2-1 home-ice victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

“Truly the difference maker,” was how captain Dylan Larkin was describing Talbot’s performance. “Got us two points and unbelievable stops there all night.

“Pretty perfect game.”

The 37-year-old puckstopper is now 3-1-1 on the season. Talbot is showing a 2.73 GAA, .923 save percentage and one shutout while adorned in the winged wheel.

“You hold that team to one goal . . . it’s a pretty good night on everyone, especially Cam,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said.

Talbot Delivering For Red Wings

An NHL All-Star Game selection last season with the Los Angeles Kings, Talbot exudes calmness and control in net. If he can eyeball the shot, he’s stopping it and keeping the puck under control so that second-chance opportunities are kept to a minimum.

“I had my sight lines for pretty much every shot tonight, so anytime we can do that it puts us in a great spot,” Talbot said after Saturday’s win. “If I can see the puck, I try to control it the best I can.

“Put the puck in the corner, eat it, swallow it, do whatever we can to kill the play.”

Is Cam Talbot entering the four nations chat for Canada !???? 👀👀 do you guys think him or Flower as your number 3 borderline 2?

— jason demers (@jasondemers5) November 3, 2024

Ultmately, that’s what an NHL team wants from its netminder. They are stopping all of the shots they should stop. When they do give up a goal, it must be well-earned by the opposition.

Talbot is delivering that level of puckstopping.

“Some elite starts,” Lalonde said. “You kind of grade your goalies on elites or great starts, okay starts, not good starts, kind of three categories. And he’s put a handful in that top one already.

“And it just gives us great opportunity. Key saves at key times, but just the calmness of eating pucks at times.”

It’s that calmness that Talbot exudes when between the pipes that Lalonde most likes. And that savvy, veteran exterior is also beginning to make an appearance inside the Detroit dressing room.

“It’s a mature NHL veteran who’s seen a lot in this league and he’s starting to have a voice in the room,” Lalonde said. “Just talking about what’s needed at times in the room. So been a huge positive throughout from camp on.”