The Ottawa Senators have had an up-and-down season. After it looked at first like the team couldn’t escape the ghosts of disappointing seasons past, strong play over the past few weeks has them back in the extended playoff conversation.
A big part of this improved performance has been the goaltending duo of Anton Forsberg and Cam Talbot, who has helped bring out each other’s best in a tandem role. Talbot’s started 20 out of Ottawa’s 38 games despite missing time early in the season with an injury, and both he and Forsberg have recorded save percentages above the .910 mark.
It’s goaltending that’s good enough to get you into the playoffs, and it’s goaltending that’s good enough to win you a round or two. That’s why it’s not surprising that Talbot, an ageing veteran netminder on a young and developing team, wants to stick around to see it through. Talbot told reporters today, including Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, that he’s ready to sign a contract extension with the Senators if the team is interested in retaining him.
While there haven’t been any formal talks, Talbot’s ability to sign an extension was hampered by his not being ready for the start of the season.
The team likely still wants to see a bit more than a 20-game sample size before committing to him for another handful of years. With Forsberg signed until 2025, at least half of their goaltending situation is set until then. While Talbot has been a good fit, a tandem/1B netminder (perhaps a younger one) is generally attainable in free agency.
If Talbot is able to maintain strong numbers through February, a one- or two-year extension is likely a somewhat safe bet for the Senators to get cost and personnel certainty at a pivotal position.
Heck, I’m just not giving someone who’ll be 36 this summer a multi-year contract, period. However much some guys seem eternal, at that age performance can just drop off a cliff, no matter who or what. Giving Talbot a two-year deal would be some serious benefit of the doubt. Giving him three would be moronic.
Agreed, anything more than 2 years would be stupid.
Talbot has been decent, but inconsistent at times.
Problem is: where do you find a “great” goalie ? Sogaard is all they have in the minors.
It’s funny how a couple years ago the goalie pipeline was looking pretty promising in that at least one of Hogberg, Daccord, or Gustavsson would take over a role on the team.
I wonder if they view Mandolese in their future plans still along with Sogaard.
Yes, where did all those goalie prospects go ???
Goalies have always been the Achilles heel for the Sens, other than the 40+ games that Hasek played for us, and the Hamburglar run in 2017. Some brief flashes of brilliance from Emery, Tugnett, Bishop, Lehner, Anderson, etc.
I’m afraid we are in the same position right now, we need a stud goalie if we are to have any success.