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NHL Free Agency: Cam Talbot signs one year deal with Calgary Flames

By Paige Siewert |
ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 05: Edmonton Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot (33) takes a drink at a stoppage in play during the third period of an NHL hockey game between the Edmonton Oilers and the St. Louis Blues on December 5, 2018, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Tim Spyers/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 05: Edmonton Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot (33) takes a drink at a stoppage in play during the third period of an NHL hockey game between the Edmonton Oilers and the St. Louis Blues on December 5, 2018, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Tim Spyers/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Calgary Flames have found their backup goaltender in NHL free agency. They’ve signed Cam Talbot for $2.75 million over one year.

The rumors of Cam Talbot heading to the Calgary Flames in NHL free agency have been floating around social media for just under a week. Pat Steinberg from the Fan960 reported on June 30th that the deal with Cam Talbot is expected to be a $2.5 million deal over one year. On July 1st that the deal will, in fact, be $2.75 million over one year.

The 31-year-old Talbot will be going into his eighth season in the NHL. What is the most interesting part of this deal is the role he’s played in the Battle of Alberta for the last four years.

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Alberta players talk about the energy of the game time and time again. The excitement of the provincial rivalry. Every time the Oilers and the Flames face off, fans are in for a playoff atmosphere with high tensions and no final outcome decided until the final buzzer sounds.

With Mike Smith rumored to be heading to Edmonton, the Battle of Alberta will be more emotional than it has been in a long time. Each netminder will expectedly bring an extra edge to their game to not only be victorious for their team but to also prove their role for their new team.

It is no secret that the Flames have had their share of goaltending woes for the last six years. Consistency between the pipes is not something the Flames have had in a reliable form since the days of Miikka Kiprusoff.

Since then, goaltenders have come and gone but they are still looking for the perfect formula. Calgary had their hopes in young up and coming prospects like Jon Gillies, Tyler Parsons, Nick Schneider and Mason McDonald, but their development is still a work in progress. Each shows their own style and glimmers of big-time talent.

Someone within the affiliation system that has shown great promise is David Rittich. It is no secret that he proved himself last season. When Mike Smith wasn’t performing, Rittich stepped up. The combination of the two was a large part of the reason the Flames clinched the Western Conference.

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However, getting knocked out of the first round is not the hopes the team or the city of Calgary had for them. A pairing of Rittich and Talbot could be quite the combination. They need the depth to improve off of an already impressive season.

There is still a giant question mark in the future of Flames goaltending. Is Cam Talbot the answer?

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