Oilers Trade Talbot to Philly For Stolarz

The Oilers and Flyers have made a goalie swap, with Edmonton sending veteran netminder Cam Talbot to the land of cheese steaks and liberty bells. In return, goalie prospect Anthony Stolarz comes to the land of donairs and frostbite.

Talbot’s career with the Oilers started out great. He sported a respectable 91.7 save % in his first year with the club, then followed that up with one of the greatest goaltending seasons in team history in 2016-17, when he started 73 games, posted a 91.9 save %, and set the franchise record with 42 wins, while also posting the most goalie point shares in team history, per hockey reference.

However, Talbot’s play fell off drastically in the past nearly two seasons. In 98 games since the start of the 2017-18 campaign, Talbot has only managed to stop 90.3% of all shots he faced, including a dreadful 89.3% this year.

All in all, Talbot appeared in 227 games as an Oiler. He won 104, including 12 shutouts, and had a 91.2 save % with the team.

Talbot’s replacement in Albert’s capital will be Anthony Stolarz. A 6’6’’ netminder, who turned 25 in January, and was the Flyers’ second round pick (45th overall) in the 2012 entry draft.

Stolarz shined in junior hockey, as a member of the OHL’s London Knights. His amateur accomplishments include leading the OHL in save % in 2013-14, and backstopping the team to an OHL title in 2012-13. In each season, Stolarz started games in the memorial cup tournament. Stolarz also appeared in net for the American IIHF U-20 world junior squad in the 2014 tournament. (source : Elite Prospects)

As a professional, Stolarz has mainly played for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL. He has 113 career games played at that level, and a 91.0 save %. He was also selected to participate in the AHL All-Star game during the 2015-16 season.

In his short time up with the big club in Philadelphia, Stolarz has recorded two shutouts in 19 appearances, and has stopped 91.1% of the shots he’s faced overall. (source : hockeydb)

Stolarz will be arbitration eligible at the end of this season, when he hit RFA status. (source: Cap Friendly)

Expect Stolarz to get plenty of playing time down the stretch run, along with Mikko Koskinen, as the Oilers will look to evaluate their goaltending situation for 2019-20 and beyond.

Of note, regarding the Oilers’ goalie situation going forward, is Bakersfield backstop Shane Starrett. Starrett set the Bakersfield (AHL/ECHL combined) record with his eleventh straight win on Friday night, according to Condors radio man Ryan Holt, via Twitter. Coming into Friday’s game, Starrett was 17-3-1 in the AHL this year, with a 92.1 save %. (source: hockeydb)