Free Agent Profile: Cam Talbot

In his first year with the Red Wings, Talbot quickly became the Red Wings’ starting netminder over Alex Lyon and Ville Husso. He finished the season with a 21-19-5 record in 47 games with a .900 SV% and 2.93 GAA. Unfortunately, the 2025-26 campaign wasn’t as kind to him.

Ceding the starter’s crease to John Gibson, Talbot was wholly unreliable for the Red Wings last season. In one of the worst seasons of his 13-year career, Talbot managed a 12-9-6 record in 34 games with a .883 SV% and 3.19 GAA.

Stats

2025-26: 34 GP, 12 W, 9 L, 6 OT/SOL, 704 saves, 93 GA, .883 SV%, 3.19 GAA, -9.7 GSAA
Career: 567 GP, 278 W, 204 L, 53 OT/SOL, 16,189 saves, 1,442 GA, .911 SV%, 2.69 GAA, 35.2 GSAA

Potential Suitors

As we mentioned in Connor Ingram‘s free agent profile a few days ago, there’s realistically only one option for Talbot if he is hoping for a backup role this season. The Columbus Blue Jackets won’t have Elvis Merzlikins for the foreseeable future after shoulder surgery. Since Pheonix Copley is their only remaining option behind Jet Greaves, Talbot could be a better short-term option for Columbus.

Meanwhile, there’s also the Winnipeg Jets. Since there’s little possibility of the Jets improving their goaltending by trading Connor Hellebuyck, who recently requested a trade, Winnipeg could acquire a solid package in return without a goaltender and pivot to Talbot.

If neither option proves fruitful, Talbot could take a page from James Reimer‘s playbook from last season. Reimer was in a similar situation last season and eventually signed a one-year deal with the Senators in January. Talbot could continue training and wait to see if a team needs additional goaltending depth throughout the season.

Projected Contract

Like Reimer, Talbot shouldn’t be expecting a lucrative deal. In January, Reimer signed a one-year, $850K contract with the Senators, just slightly above the minimum. Fortunately for Talbot, that’s the new minimum for the 2026-27 season. If any team gets desperate, Talbot could realistically land a $900K contract.