Cam Talbot’s up-and-down first year in Detroit is a microcosm for his overall career.
The netminder’s recent struggles have been blamed as one of the main reasons for the Red Wings’ losing skid. Across 11 games in February and March, Talbot had a record of 4-7 and posted a .886 save percentage with a 3.13 GAA. This led to general manager Steve Yzerman trading for Petr Mrazek and benching Talbot.
With all of this futility, it is easy to forget how impressive Talbot was to start the year. Before the Four Nations break at the start of February, Talbot had a 16-11 record with a .906 save percentage and a 2.84 GAA. This included a near-perfect January, where he went 8-1 along with a .911 save percentage and a 2.63 GAA. Talbot’s numbers are even more impressive when considering the lackluster defensive units he was playing behind and the chaos of the Red Wings under former coach Derek Lalonde.
Because of his strong play, several pundits viewed Talbot as one of the most notable snubs from Team Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off.
Detroit Red Wings' Cam Talbot kept the team competitive this season despite recent struggles
Talbot may be struggling down the stretch, but the Red Wings would likely not be sniffing a playoff spot if not for his spectacular play in the first four months of the season.
As is the case with this year, fans and media tend to focus almost exclusively on Talbot’s shortcomings rather than his strengths. Nobody says he deserves a Vezina Trophy, but it is surprising where Talbot’s career ranks amongst other goaltenders with how he is spoken about.
Through nearly 12 seasons, Talbot’s .913 save percentage is 36th all-time, while his 263 wins (60th), 527 games played (75th), and 2.66 GAA (75th) also rank inside the top 100. Notable goaltenders that are around Talbot’s ranks include Jean-Sebastian Giguerre, Felix Potvin, Marty Turco, Corey Crawford, and Ryan Miller.
Although they are not hall-of-fame numbers, Talbot's statistical ranking as a top-75 goaltender in a sport that has existed for over a century is quite impressive. But why is he often referred to as just another journeyman goaltender? The answer comes down to a couple of reasons.
From Martin Brodeur and the Devils to Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Lightning, most of the NHL’s legendary goaltenders can be connected with one team, which builds an aura around them. Talbot, however, has never played long enough or had sustained success for one franchise to gain that.
He has played for eight teams, with his longest stint being three-and-a-half years with the Edmonton Oilers. If you surveyed fans on what team Talbot is synonymous with, some may say the Oilers, but several would also say the Minnesota Wild, the New York Rangers, or the Los Angeles Kings. Talbot’s inability to become a franchise stalwart prevents him from becoming more of an all-time great.
Another negative aspect of Talbot’s legacy is his lack of postseason success, which is not entirely his fault. He has only made the playoffs as a starter four times, meaning he has not consistently played for good teams.
He typically rises to the occasion once the postseason begins. Aside from his benching with the Kings in the 2023-2024 playoffs, he had a .924 save percentage and under 2.5 GAA in his other three playoff runs as a starter.
Additionally, Talbot has only advanced past the first round twice: with the Oilers in 2016-2017 and the Calgary Flames in 2019-2020. In both instances, his team was eliminated in the second round.
Talbot is not without blame for his lack of team success, however. The goaltender has a propensity for dipping in performance as the season progresses, which was best seen this year with the Red Wings.
So, is Cam Talbot’s career underrated? It probably depends on who you ask. Some may only look at the stats, where with a couple more seasons, he could surpass 300 wins and 600 games played. Others may look at his lack of team success or how he never found a true home in the NHL.
Regardless, it is time that fans stop looking at only Talbot’s faults and instead at the whole picture of his career, which is that of one of the more steady goaltenders the game has seen.