Cam Talbot

At 37 years old, Cam Talbot has this physical status:

Cameron Talbot (born July 5, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL).

He has played for the Edmonton Oilers, the New York Rangers, and has had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers. Talbot played at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama, where he was named All-College Hockey America Second Team and MVP in the 2010 CHA tournament.

Talbot has represented Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Championships, both nationally and internationally.

Personal life

Talbot married Kelly Kelly in 2011 and the two had twins in October 2016.

Talbot has worn masks from the Ghostbusters series, dating back to his days with the New York Rangers. Artist David Gunnarsson created Talbot's masks featuring characters and scenes from the Ghostbusters movies. The goaltender's identity was also enhanced by this style, which was also known as "goalbuster."'

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Playing career

Cam Talbot grew up in Caledonia, Ontario, and began playing with the Caledonia Thunder MHA teams before moving to the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs of the South Central AAA League in Minor Bantam. He was undrafted in the 2003 OHL Priority Selection and resigned to the Jr. Bulldogs, where he spent a season as a Major Midget.

Talbot was a member of the Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) in 2005-05 after a good Big Midget season.

Talbot played college hockey at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He was named to the All-College Hockey America Second Team and named Most Valuable Player in the CHA Tournament in the 2009–2010 season, while the Chargers advanced to a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The New York Rangers announced Talbot as a free agent on March 30, 2010. After playing the bulk of the 2010-11 season with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL), he was promoted to the Rangers on February 28, 2011 (he also played two ECHL games with the Greenville Road Warriors).

Talbot spent his 2011–12 season with Connecticut, but after Connecticut was barred from the AHL playoffs, Talbot was added to the Rangers' Stanley Cup playoff roster. He was also added to the Rangers' playoff roster following the 2012–2013 Whale season. On October 15, 2013, Talbot was called back to the Rangers for the first time as the back-up to starter Henrik Lundqvist. Talbot lost 2–1 to the Philadelphia Flyers on October 24, his on-ice NHL debut. He won his first NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings on October 26, 2013, and he recorded his first NHL shutout against the Montreal Canadiens on November 16, 2013. Talbot stopped Lundqvist twice during the Rangers' Eastern Conference championship before losing to the Los Angeles Kings in the Finals.

Talbot's backup goaltender started the year as the Rangers' backup goaltender, and in his first eight games played, he recorded three shutouts, matching his total number from the previous season.

After Henrik Lundqvist's ruptured blood vessel in his neck, Talbot became New York's provisional starting goaltender on February 3, 2015. Talbot played 24 of the Rangers' next 26 games (Mackenzie Skapski played the other two) until March 27, when Lundqvist returned to the team. Talbot did better in net and went 17–4–3 during Lundqvist's absence, winning 17–4–3. Talbot had a lower GAA (2.21), as well as a higher save percentage (.926) than Lundqvist (2.25 GAA,.922 save percentage). On April 6, Steve McDonald Extra Effort Award recipient for his remarkable efforts during New York's President's Trophy-winning season.

Talbot was traded by the Rangers to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for three draft picks in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft on June 27, 2015. Talbot was a regular goaltender for Edmonton's top goaltender position with Anders Nilsson in his first season with the Oilers.

The Oilers signed Talbot to a three-year, $12 million contract extension on January 17, 2016. Nilsson was eventually traded to the St. Louis Blues, leaving Cam Talbot as Edmonton's starting goaltender.

Talbot defeated Grant Fuhr, who had 40 wins, in a season running through April 6, 2017, winning 41 games. Talbot finished the season by leading the NHL in games played (72 of 82 in regular season) and time on ice by a goaltender, as well as tied for first place with 42. With 103 points, the Oilers finished second in the Pacific Division on a season-best-of-the-West. Talbot helped the Oilers advance to Game 7 of the Western Semifinals, losing to the Anaheim Ducks in what was the first playoff appearance by the Oilers in ten years. Talbot finished the playoffs with a 2.88 GAA,.924 save percentage, and two shutouts.

In the 2017-18 season-opener against the Calgary Flames, Talbot defeated the Calgary Flames on October 4, 2017. Talbot and the Oilers would not be able to recreate the previous season's success, and they likely skipped the playoffs. Talbot's record ended the season with a 31–31–3 record and a goals-against-average of 3.02.

Talbot was traded by the Oilers to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Anthony Stolarz during the 2018-19 season.

Talbot, the Flyers' free agent, has signed to a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Calgary Flames on July 1, 2019. Talbot defeated fellow goalie Mike Smith in a Battle of Alberta game on February 1, 2020. Talbot beat the Winnipeg Jets 3–1 in a series of games during the COVID-19 pandemic and the NHL's return to play, earning Talbot's nickname "Yes We Cam" Talbot.

Talbot left the Flames on October 9, 2020, the first day of a free agency, and agreed to a three-year contract worth $11 million to become Minnesota's starting goaltender. In his first campaign with the Wild, he set a 19–8–5 record, leading to their first season as a playoff team.

Talbot was traded by the Wild to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Filip Gustavsson on July 12, 2022, with a year remaining on his deal.

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