2. Cam Talbot, G
From the perspective of pure value, there probably isn't a better signing the Kings' front office made in the 2020s decade than goalie Cam Talbot, bringing him on board in the 2023 offseason for one year on a deal that paid just $1 million in base value for the 2023-24 season.
Talbot gave the Kings much-needed stability in the crease in the 2023-24 season, helping Los Angeles make the playoffs and finish the season with 99 points in the Pacific Division. He didn't need to be a long-term franchise goalie for the Kings after he was signed in the 2023 offseason, but Talbot did give the team enough trust that he could make the big save in clutch time when it mattered most in the defensive zone.
What gives Talbot the edge on this list over Forsberg is the fact that he was the starter for an entire season for the Kings, and he won over 25 games in the 2023-24 season. He was named an NHL All-Star to represent the Kings in 2024.
After spending this past regular season with the Detroit Red Wings, Talbot remains one of the top available unrestricted free-agent veteran goaltenders late this offseason. Any team that needs a proven veteran goalie on a low-cost, prove-it deal going into training camp this fall could see Talbot hypothetically as a potential fit in the crease for this upcoming season.
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