[Rumour] UPD: Flames sign Cam Talbot (1yr, $2.75mil)

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Brick

I was hoping that the Flames were going to pick up a goalie that is at least above the league average.

like who? Bobrovsky and Lehner are pipedreams financially. So someone like Mrazek then? Might as well roll the dice with Talbot instead.

In fact, we're getting Talbot in the situation that Mrazek was last year: down year, traded to Philly at the deadline, not re-signed after the season. Canes gave him a chance for a year and it paid off ... I see no reason why Talbot couldn't bounce back in a similar way. What Talbot did in New York and Edmonton was better than what Mrazek ever did in his career.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by keenan87

I know what you mean and I agree.

However, I am getting a little annoyed with the piss poor planning by the GM and his team for this off-season. Mainly due to unappealing contracts and buyouts (Neal, Frolik, Brouwer, Stone). I know that other teams are also in this spot but the Flames got dominated in the first round of the playoffs... not sure why we are so locked in with the existing core and they better do something in the playoffs next season

I mean.. there is no money to spend on an average goalie (around $5 MIL).. that is a bit ridiculous.

I know I am in the minority but paying Backlund almost 6 million is an overpayment because he is a 3rd line guy who can play defense. Tkachuk is really the biggest reason Backlund and Frolik have shown offense in the past few seasons. I would happily take an offensive 2nd line center and have Ryan play on the third line... with no Backlund

I think if they could get a guy that was worth that much they would find the money
Actually getting a guy like that is more the hurdle imho

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by keenan87

I know what you mean and I agree.

However, I am getting a little annoyed with the piss poor planning by the GM and his team for this off-season. Mainly due to unappealing contracts and buyouts (Neal, Frolik, Brouwer, Stone). I know that other teams are also in this spot but the Flames got dominated in the first round of the playoffs... not sure why we are so locked in with the existing core and they better do something in the playoffs next season

I mean.. there is no money to spend on an average goalie (around $5 MIL).. that is a bit ridiculous.

I know I am in the minority but paying Backlund almost 6 million is an overpayment because he is a 3rd line guy who can play defense. Tkachuk is really the biggest reason Backlund and Frolik have shown offense in the past few seasons. I would happily take an offensive 2nd line center and have Ryan play on the third line... with no Backlund

Talbot has been better than average in the past so at $2.5 million if he gets back to that level of play it's a bargain while spending $5 million with term on a guy like Varlamov doesn't guarantee he's going to be better, just more expensive. I don't like the idea of giving term to backup goaltenders so this is a nice compromise IMO.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Talbot has been better than average in the past so at $2.5 million if he gets back to that level of play it's a bargain while spending $5 million with term on a guy like Varlamov doesn't guarantee he's going to be better, just more expensive. I don't like the idea of giving term to backup goaltenders so this is a nice compromise IMO.

Oh, for sure! I don't mind the idea of Talbot.. just a bit annoyed the Flames are so strapped and have lost a bit of faith in the core especially Gaudreau and Monahan... That being said, I hope they prove me absolutely wrong.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Brick

I was hoping that the Flames were going to pick up a goalie that is at least above the league average.

Maybe that goalie is Cam Talbot?


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[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by keenan87

I know what you mean and I agree.

However, I am getting a little annoyed with the piss poor planning by the GM and his team for this off-season. Mainly due to unappealing contracts and buyouts (Neal, Frolik, Brouwer, Stone). I know that other teams are also in this spot but the Flames got dominated in the first round of the playoffs... not sure why we are so locked in with the existing core and they better do something in the playoffs next season

I think the reason is that the Flames have a tonne of faith in a lot of their core players and are betting that they are much better than they played for two weeks in April.

I know I am in the minority but paying Backlund almost 6 million is an overpayment because he is a 3rd line guy who can play defense. Tkachuk is really the biggest reason Backlund and Frolik have shown offense in the past few seasons. I would happily take an offensive 2nd line center and have Ryan play on the third line... with no Backlund

You are certainly not alone in wishing for an upgrade at centre, but you are also badly underselling Mikkelson Backlund. He has produced like clockwork in the 45-50 pts range for several years now, both with and without Tkachuk on his wing.

Last year Backlund scores 21 goals at ES and 45 points. Tkachuk scored 23 and 53. Backlund is a lot better than you give him credit.


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[ricosuave]

Would much rather have, and expect a bounce back season from, Talbot than Smith.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Locke

I'd be wary of attributing too much weight to anything Talbot accomplished or lack thereof with the Oilers.



They're just so bad everything is an outlier.

I would normally agree to that. However he still struggled with the Hitchcock Oilers who actually played solid defense. They just couldn’t score for $&?!


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[Brick]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Maybe that goalie is Cam Talbot?


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Maybe...maybe not...

It would be nice to get a proven goalie instead of another in a long line of average/sub-average goaltenders.

Goaltending remains a big question mark in Calgary.

[Enoch Root]

Happy with the Talbot news - low cost, experienced, and has shown in the past that he can be a clear #1, so the upside is there.

A combination of Rittich, Talbot, Gillies, and Parsons gives the Flames lots of opportunity to find success at the position. And at a good price in the short term.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I would normally agree to that. However he still struggled with the Hitchcock Oilers who actually played solid defense. They just couldn’t score for $&?!


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Uh NO!

They were 24th in GA in the time Hitchcock coached the Oilers.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Brick

Maybe...maybe not...

It would be nice to get a proven goalie instead of another in a long line of average/sub-average goaltenders.

Goaltending remains a big question mark in Calgary.

You have to grow them, you can't buy them. Well, by that I mean that, while you can buy them, it'll destroy your cap. So you can't buy them.

They need one of Rittich, Gillies or Parsons to develop into a #1. In the meantime, Talbot can be extremely useful if he can return to form.

I don't see any better options out there. Especially on a dollar cost weighted basis.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Brick

Maybe...maybe not...

It would be nice to get a proven goalie instead of another in a long line of average/sub-average goaltenders.

Goaltending remains a big question mark in Calgary.

Talbot frickin stood on his head and dragged the Oilers into the playoffs and then the 2nd round! The Oilers of all teams! How short are people’s memories? Sure his year last year wasn’t great but he was a tremendous goalie earlier for EDM. Both he and Rittich are gambles but I think both are good and smart gambles by Treliving and I think the tandem will be fairly cheap compared to league average.

I like the move. He’ll be motivated to play for his next contract on a significantly better team. I like his chances of rebounding.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Talbot frickin stood on his head and dragged the Oilers into the playoffs and then the 2nd round! .

He absolutely did.

However I suspect he's a goalie who only thrives with a lot of shots (i.e. 2015-17) and when the team in front allows fewer shots it manifests poorly. I'm hoping he fits, but we can't recreate the conditions he thrived in when he was considered a good goalie.

[Brick]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Talbot frickin stood on his head and dragged the Oilers into the playoffs and then the 2nd round! The Oilers of all teams! How short are people’s memories? Sure his year last year wasn’t great but he was a tremendous goalie earlier for EDM. Both he and Rittich are gambles but I think both are good and smart gambles by Treliving and I think the tandem will be fairly cheap compared to league average.

I like the move. He’ll be motivated to play for his next contract on a significantly better team. I like his chances of rebounding.

There is a reason Talbot will be cheap compared to league average. Talbot hasn't even been an average goaltender for the last 3 years. Cheap isn't necessarily the best way to go when it comes to goaltenders.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Brick

There is a reason Talbot will be cheap compared to league average. Talbot hasn't even been an average goaltender for the last 3 years. Cheap isn't necessarily the best way to go when it comes to goaltenders.

Gotta consider the type of defending he’s been put behind.

Saving money at one position allows you to spend more in others.

Talbot is a nice insurance policy in case Rittich falters but I think Big Save Dave is our likely #1. Talbot is a solid gamble in my mind. Rittich has show a lot of signs he can be our #1, seems like some here may be underrating him.

[bubbsy]

I think we should be really pleased. We can't afford to go put and get a bona fide #1, but i feel that the flames got the best potential breakout goalie on the market. He's been a damn good goalie for much of his career who is getting notoriety due to his time with the oilers.

Look up the last decade of oilers goalies folks. Given the weight that org puts on defence personnel and systems, no goalie has succeeded there.

I think he could really thrive playing behind a good hockey team, and one that did well to limit high scoring chances for muvh of the year.

I am excited to see Rittich and talbot battle and compete for starter status.

It's hilarious that the oilers are giving smith, who was hot trash outside of a week stretch here and there last season roughly the same dough we got talbot for.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I would normally agree to that. However he still struggled with the Hitchcock Oilers who actually played solid defense. They just couldn’t score for $&?!


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They didnt play 'solid defence' they played 'tight defence' theres a difference and that difference was that they were consistently hemmed in their own zone because their forwards cheat and they have nobody who could make a breakout pass.

That being said, now with Smith I think the Oilers are going to set a record for 'Number of Icings in a Season.'

Its going to be 'cram the D-zone and hope Mike Smith can make a breakout pass to a cheating forward' so....essentially shinny hockey.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I think we should be really pleased. We can't afford to go put and get a bona fide #1, but i feel that the flames got the best potential breakout goalie on the market. He's been a damn good goalie for much of his career who is getting notoriety due to his time with the oilers.

Look up the last decade of oilers goalies folks. Given the weight that org puts on defence personnel and systems, no goalie has succeeded there.

I think he could really thrive playing behind a good hockey team, and one that did well to limit high scoring chances for muvh of the year.

I am excited to see Rittich and talbot battle and compete for starter status.

It's hilarious that the oilers are giving smith, who was hot trash outside of a week stretch here and there last season roughly the same dough we got talbot for.

Heres what I think though....Smith cost the Flames a lot of games and a lot of points and he would have cost a lot more but we scored our way out of trouble a number of times, the Oilers are not going to have that luxury.

I think the shine is going to come off of Smith pretty damned quick in Soviet Edmonton.

Which is a shame, I like Smith as a person and a teammate for the most part, but he was just far too mentally fragile, the 'Edmonton Meat Grinder' is going to be rough for him.

I'd love to know what his performance bonuses are. Because if its 'Games Played' then, well, we saw what the Oilers were willing to do to Kostinem at the tail end of the season there.

Rain, snow or sleet they rode him hard and put him away wet even though it cost them a goalie they traded for.

Sorry Smith....you're the enemy now and I hope for your complete and abject failure other than I hope you take their money, hit all your performance bonuses and get a nice, long off-season next year.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Brick

There is a reason Talbot will be cheap compared to league average. Talbot hasn't even been an average goaltender for the last 3 years. Cheap isn't necessarily the best way to go when it comes to goaltenders.

It’s basically like saying, I can’t afford a cup, but there is a cheap knife for sale. If I stick the knife down my pants at just the right angle, it might protect my junk. It could work, but it is risky and could be a disaster