Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Calgary Flames 2019-20 player profile: Cam Talbot

August 22, 2019, 10:51 AM ET [12 Comments]
Todd Cordell
Calgary Flames Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell

With next to nothing happening in the hockey world this month, I thought this would be as good of a time as any to profile members of the Calgary Flames.

I'll be commenting on their performances last season as well as projected role and expectations moving forward. I've profiled 10 Flames thus far, with David Rittich being the most recent.

Today we're going to take a closer look at Cam Talbot.

Counting stats: 35 games played, 11-17-3 record, .892 save percentage

5v5 underlyings: .912 save percentage, .813 high-danger save percentage, -6.32 goals saved above average

2018-19 review: It was a bad season for Cam Talbot. There are no ways around it. He started the year off posting a sub .900 save percentage in seven of his first 14 games and was never really able to string together quality appearances. His longest streak of .900+ goaltending was just three games and he only accomplished that twice. He didn't get much help in front of him – the Oilers were almost entirely a mess beyond their star forward duo, and the Flyers weren't exactly stingy defensively – which only made matters worse. It was tough for the ship to be righted, and easy for things to continue snowballing.

Fun fact: While Talbot's season as a whole was not good, he still managed to post a better save percentage against high-danger shots than Marc-Andre Fleury, Devan Dubnyk, and Jonathan Quick, among others, at 5v5.

2019-20 outlook: I'm not normally bullish on players who had the kind of year Talbot did but I think he's in an optimal situation to bounce back. The Flames were one of the better teams at suppressing chances and expected goals last season. With Mark Giordano, Travis Hamonic, T.J. Brodie (still around!), Noah Hanifin, and Rasmus Andersson anchoring the blueline, I don't expect that to change. Talbot should have stability in front of him.

He's also only 32. His best days are behind him, no doubt, but it's not like there is no gas left in the tank. He's provided above average goaltending four of the last six years and *at least* average goaltending in five out of six. It's hardly a stretch to think his numbers next season could revert back closer to the norm, especially in a situation where he's regarded as a platoon guy rather than an undisputed starter. The weight of the world isn't on his shoulders and I think that will help.

numbers via naturalstattrick.com and hockey-reference.com

Recent posts:

Best forward duo in the Atlantic Division?

2019 player profile: Johnny Gaudreau

2019 player profile: Mark Giordano

Top-5 wingers 22 & under?

Top-5 defensemen in the Western Conference?

Top-5 wingers in the Western Conference?

On the Milan Lucic trade
Join the Discussion: » 12 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Todd Cordell
» Three negatives from the Calgary Flames' 2020-21 campaign
» Three positives from the Calgary Flames' 2020-21 season
» Calgary Flames notes - May 19th
» Three things I'd like to see from the Calgary Flames down the stretch
» G52 Calgary Flames vs Ottawa Senators: Low-danger hockey