Talbot inks extension with Oilers
Goaltender Cam Talbot had done the math, so when he got his game back on track and the Edmonton Oilers started talking contract, he paid heed.
Now he has a three-year, $12.5-million extension and the starting role on an NHL team that has been desperately looking for a solution in the net.
There is a no-move clause in the deal, which was announced Sunday before the Oilers departed for Florida to start a three-game road trip. Talbot will be in goal when Edmonton plays the Panthers at 5:30 p.m. MST Monday.
“The potential to be the starter was huge,” Talbot, 28, said in a phone interview. “There’s not a lot of goalie spots out there and, right now, you could argue that there’s more goalies than there are spots ... so I was extremely excited about this opportunity.
“I want to be a part of this team moving forward,” he continued. “I want to be with this group of guys that I can grow and progress with so the no-move clause was a big selling point for us.”
Acquired from the New York Rangers at last summer’s NHL entry draft, Talbot first had to prove that he was ready to be a starter, but it didn’t happen immediately. Anders Nilsson went on a run earlier this season that left Talbot with plenty of practice time.
Talbot hasn’t looked back since taking over the net in mid-December. It was his commitment to improving his game that was the last trigger for general manager Peter Chiarelli, who was able to start negotiating on Jan. 1.
“That’s the Cam Talbot I’ve seen,” said Chiarelli, who signed Tim Thomas to an extension when he was with the Boston Bruins. Thomas also didn’t have a significant sample size, but like Talbot, had a work ethic that got him through the rough patches.
Talbot, who is currently on the last year of a contract for $1.45 million per season that he signed with the Rangers, has played 26 games with the Oilers, registering an 8-13-2 record with a 2.58 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.
“I’ve always rebounded,” said Talbot. “It just took a little bit longer (to get back in) because of the stretch that Anders went on. I knew once I got that opportunity that I’d be able to run with it and I think I’ve done that since I got the net back.”
Nilsson, signed to a one-year deal in the off-season to heat up the competition, is 10-10-2 with a 2.95 goals-against average and .906 save percentage.
Both goalies did enough in the pre-season to knock former Oilers starting goalie Ben Scrivens right out of the equation. Scrivens was sent to the American Hockey League and has since been traded to the Montreal Canadiens.
Former Edmonton Oil Kings goaltender Laurent Brossoit is manning the net for the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers’ top farm team. He has a 2.55 goals-against average and .927 save percentage though 21 games.
“I’m feeling more comfortable,” Chiarelli said of his current goaltending situation. “I think we can still improve it.
“Obviously, getting Cam under contract for three years is helpful. Anders has shown flashes. He’s big. He’s young. He’s willing to put in the time and Brossoit has had a heck of a year in the American League. He’s another big, athletic, competitive, aggressive goalie ... so I’m starting to feel a little better.”
Talbot, who is 83 games into his NHL career, turned heads last year when he stepped in for the Rangers’ injured starting netminder, Henrik Lundqvist. He was good enough to convince Chiarelli to trade away second-, third- and seventh-round draft picks.
“With any deal, there’s an element of risk involved, but I felt comfortable having seen him play the last two years,” Chiarelli said. “Having seen how he worked through his slump, so to speak, with us, I thought he was so diligent and he made adjustments and that’s the type of attitude you have to have as a No. 1 goalie.
“Technically, athletically and with his character, it’s a recipe for success.”
There have been times in the past when the Edmonton Oilers couldn’t wait to get on the road and away from Rexall Place.
Their dismal play wore down the faithful fans, jerseys were tossed on the ice in frustration and boos rained down from the stands. By the time the NHL season drew to a merciful close last year, the Oilers had a 15-23-3 record on home ice.
That’s a sharp contrast to this season with the Oilers 13-9-1 at home, but having just five road wins.
“Every year, when you have such a lopsided record, you think about everything,” said Oilers winger Teddy Purcell. “You think about sleep. You think about the hotel beds. You think about the meals ... so it’s really tough to put a finger on it.
“Everyone is a year older this year so we can’t continue to say we’re a young team. Sometimes you just have to figure it out and find a way.”
The Oilers left Sunday for a three-game road trip that will pit them against the Florida Panthers on Monday, Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday and Dallas Stars on Thursday. They are dragging a 5-14-4 road record — the worst in the league — with them. Right behind Edmonton are the Calgary Flames, who are 6-11-3 after dropping Saturday’s 2-1 shootout decision at Rexall Place. Purcell scored the lone goal in the shootout.
“When you start playing well, the fans are on your side and you start feeling good about yourself,” Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. “Last year, we did seem to play a really solid game on the road and, for whatever reason, it’s different this year.
“We know we have the ability to do it. I just don’t know what it is, but we have to change something and find a way to get it done. It usually comes down to that one extra goal.”
The Oilers have played in eight straightone-goalgames,going3-3-2 during that stretch.
“I think that’s the whole team identity right now. We’re trying to take pride in our home building, pride in our team,” said defenceman Mark Fayne, who scored his first goal since Feb. 14, 2015, to tie Saturday’s game 1-1 in the third period.
“There are just one or two plays on the road that are with hurting us or we’re not capitalizing on,” he continued. “Once you get on a roll, those start going your way.”
Mark Letestu, who is new to the team this season, isn’t convinced the disparity in the records is as simple as line matching.
“I really can’t put my finger on it. If I could, I’d bring it to everybody’s attention,” he said. “It might just be one of those statistical anomalies right now, but it is something we’re working to correct whether it’s just preparation or just being ready to go. It hasn’t been good enough and we have to change it.
“We have very similar home record to Florida, for instance, but there’s a big separation when it comes to the road.”
The Oilers picked up points in their previous two road games, but also left points for their division rivals in overtime or shootout losses to the Arizona Coyotes and San Jose Sharks.
“Our road record hasn’t been the way it needs to be,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “We have to find a way to turn that around and I think we started to on this last trip.”