Rangers announce extension for the perfect backup, Cam Talbot
Cam Talbot wearing the Broadway Hat (NYR)
Yesterday the Rangers extended the contract of 27 year old net minder, Cam Talbot. After a shaky start, the “Goalbuster” has settled down and is sporting a 2.34 GAA and a .921 SV%. To go along with his 2-3-1 record, Cam has two of the Rangers seven shutout this season.
Rangers have signed Cam Talbot to one-year, $1.45M extension through 2015-16, Post has learned. #NYR
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) December 19, 2014
Cam is a late bloomer as it took him several years to get to the NHL. He made his debut last season at the age of 26, as the Rangers transitioned form Marty Biron as Lundqvist’s backup.
Since making the team, Talbot has 14-9-2 record with a SV% of .936 and a GAA of 1.80. These numbers are staggering for a backup and gives the Rangers one of the most lethal 1-2 goalie punches in recent memory.
Talbot’s agent George Bazos told NYDN columnist Stephen Lorenzo, “He wanted to stick around because he really likes the team, he likes New York, he likes the coaches, he likes Benoit Allaire a lot.”
Benoit Allaire is considered one of the league’s best goalie coaches and it’s not a surprise he factored in Talbot’s decision. According to Bazos, Cam turned down multi year offers from the Rangers because his ambition is to become a #1 goalie. However, Cam didn’t feel ready after only having 28 games under his belt.
“He’s played in his 28th career NHL game which is probably not enough at this point for another team to come right out and say you’re ready to be a #1 goalie,” Bazos told the NYDN. The feeling is that Cam could learn so much more under Lundqvist and Allaire than just being thrown into the top spot on a potentially bad team next season.
For now, Cam will stay put and the Rangers will benefit from having two great goalies to rely on. A luxury most teams in the NHL do not have.
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