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Talbot Named a Top-10 Goalie by NHL Network

The Oilers netminder received some well-deserved recognition for his efforts last season.

By ctravers
Edmonton Oilers v Anaheim Ducks - Game Seven Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

NHL Network named Oilers Goalie Cam Talbot one of the top-10 goalies in the league right now. They announced the list on a TV special over the weekend, and named Talbot as the seventh best goalie, one spot ahead of his former New York Rangers teammate, Henrik Lundqvist.

From NHL Network:

CAM TALBOT RANKED 7TH ON NHL NETWORK’S

ANNUAL COUNTDOWN SERIES TOP 10 GOALIES RIGHT NOW

August 7, 2017 – Edmonton Oilers goalie Cam Talbot ranked seventh on NHL Network’s countdown series Top 10 Goalies Right Now last night, ranking the best goaltenders in the National Hockey League. Talbot, who makes his debut on the second annual countdown, finished one spot ahead of two-time All-Star Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers and one spot behind two-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings.

NHL Network’s Jamison Coyle, E.J. Hradek and 11-year NHL goalie Kevin Weekes counted down the best goalies based on player performance over the past several seasons, with an emphasis on the 2016-2017 season. The ranking also weighted players’ projected performance in the 2017-2018 season, taking into account those returning from injury and expectant breakout seasons from young players.

On last night’s countdown, Hradek said of Talbot, “He’s one of those guys that has shown that even with a heavy workload, he still comes to the rink night after night and helps you win.” Weekes added, “I’m gonna make this point: Connor McDavid we know, but without Cam Talbot last year as well, last season doesn’t happen.”

An embeddable video recap of the top 10 goalies, listed below, can be seen here.

NHL Network’s Top 10 Goalies Right Now, 1-10:

1. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

2. Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals

3. Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets

4. Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins

5. Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild

6. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings

7. Cam Talbot, Edmonton Oilers

8. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

9. Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks

10. Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

Throughout the 2017 offseason, NHL Network will rank the top players across the National Hockey League in its five countdown series, starting with its lists of the best position players: Top 10 Goalies Right Now, Top 20 Wings Right Now, Top 20 Centers Right Now, and Top 20 Defensemen Right Now. The player rankings will culminate with NHL Network’s five-part series Top 50 Players Right Now, beginning Sunday, September 3. Following the completion of each show, viewers can visit NHLNetwork.com for videos on the latest rankings and share their thoughts on the series on social media using #NHLTopPlayers.

This is some well-deserved recognition for Talbot, who led the league in several statistical categories last season, including:

  • Games Started
  • Wins
  • Saves
  • Total Shots Faced
  • Minutes Played

As evidenced by the stats above, Talbot was the preeminent workhorse in the NHL last season. But his excellence wasn’t limited to compilation stats alone. Talbot also boasted a .919 save% that was above league average, and as a result of that, combined with his heavy workload, Talbot ranked 2nd in the league in hockey-reference’s Goalie Point Shares, which is a catch-all metric meant to estimate a goaltender’s overall value to his team.

The only goalie who was more valuable to his team last year, according to this metric, was Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovski, of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Oilers will need another impressive season from Talbot in 2017-18 in order to live up to expectations, and go on a deep playoff run. Hopefully Talbot’s got some more magic in him, not to mention some more gas in the tank.