It wasn't all that long ago that veteran goaltender Cam Talbot was representing the Los Angeles Kings at the NHL All-Star Game.
Just a couple of years later, the former Kings goalie finds himself in a much different position late this offseason. Talbot, now 39 years old, remains an unrestricted free agent still looking for his next opportunity as training camps around the league draw closer and the preseason this fall.
Talbot's lone season in Los Angeles was a very successful one. He registered a 27-20-6 record, a .913 save percentage, a 2.50 goals-against average, and three shutouts in 54 appearances and 52 starts during the 2023-24 campaign while earning the second All-Star selection of his career.
However, after spending this past couple of seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, a difficult 2025-26 campaign has left his future in the NHL more uncertain.
Cam Talbot's difficult season in Detroit could be hurting his free-agent market
In his first season in Detroit a couple of years ago, Talbot posted a respectable .900 save percentage and a 2.93 goals-against average in 43 starts for the Red Wings, before falling to an .883 save percentage and a 3.19 goals-against average this past regular season. His goals saved above expected fell to -9.7 and his quality start percentage was a decade low 48.0.
I would also be remiss if I didn't consider age to be a relevant factor here too. Talbot turned 39 years old back in July, so teams aren't looking at him as a long-term solution in the crease. At this point in his career, his best and most realistic route back to an NHL role is probably as a cheap veteran backup or depth goalie on an inexpensive contract instead of someone who will be expected to handle the workload he did with the Kings three seasons ago.
Regardless of whether Talbot gets another NHL opportunity for this upcoming season, his brief stint with Los Angeles will be remembered as pretty successful in retrospect. The Kings and former general manager Rob Blake had signed him to a low-risk one-year contract, worth just $1 million in base value in 2023.
He responded by giving the team over 25 wins, a save percentage north of .910, and nearly a career-best 14.0 goals saved above expected, along with an All-Star appearance.
Three years later, it appears that Talbot's career might be soon reaching its conclusion. But his one season with the Kings remains one of the better late-career stops for a goalie who has now played well over 500 career regular season games in the NHL.
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