It’s been a bit of a ride for the Detroit Red Wings in net this year. Detroit ended last season with a trio of Cam Talbot, Petr Mrazek, and Alex Lyon on the roster. Lyon walked in free agency and Steve Yzerman traded Mrazek away from the team that had drafted him (for the second time) to acquire John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks.
Now, entering the new year and nearing the 50 percent completion mark of the season, let’s take a look at how the Red Wings incumbent goalie is doing this year.
Cam Talbot holds the title of second-oldest goalie in the league, behind only the New York Islanders’ Jonathan Quick. Talbot came to the Red Wings last offseason, appearing in 47 games with a 21-19-5 record at the end of the season. By the end of the year, he had a save percentage of .901, one of the lowest in his career, and a GAA of 2.93.
It should be noted however, that there was a coaching change at this time last year, and the Red Wings defense suffered from some system adjustments in front of him. Coming off a 54-game 2023-24 campaign with the LA Kings, Talbot was actually familiar with then-new (to Detroit) Coach Todd McLellan, having posted a 2.50 GAA and .913 save percentage under him.
Talbot kept Detroit in more than a few games last year, and the expectation this season for many was that he would be able to take more of a backseat to trade acquisition John Gibson. Gibson, however, got off to a slow start this year as he adjusted to a new team playing in front of him. That left the incumbent netminder tending to things most nights to begin the Red Wings season.
Talbot appeared in 15 games over the first two months, and was playing well enough that there were murmurs of him being a trade target as the Grand Rapids Griffins, and Sebastian Cossa, got off to a hot start in the AHL.
Detroit Red Wings goalies have yet to get hot at the same time
However, Talbot has only had one regulation win since Nov. 22, and has only appeared in four games in December so far. Part of that has been Gibson heating up, with a winning streak that extends to the beginning of the month on Dec. 2. In his latest outing, Talbot stopped 33 of 35 shots in a game against the Washington Capitals that extended into overtime with two goals against, securing the win on home ice.
Talbot currently has a save percentage of .887 and a GAA of 3.00 through his 19 games played. Those are some of the worst numbers of his career, though some of the blame can be placed on just how bad the team as a whole was in November, with a 5-7-2 record that could have been worse if not for Talbot, as he started in the net for four of those wins.
With an expiring contract at the end of the season, and what looks to be a crowded AHL goalie room, Talbot could see himself losing playing time later in the season if the Red Wings decide to call Cossa up.
The veteran netminder has seen plenty of stops in the NHL, and it’s yet to be seen if Detroit will be his last. For now though, he should be a solid option to back up Gibson if he and the Red Wings continue to trend in a positive direction this season after a strong December.