Four seasons and three teams ago was the last time Cam Talbot handled the typical workload for a starting NHL goalie.
In 2018-19, he was a No. 1 before getting phased out of Edmonton's plans and traded to Philadelphia, where he played sparingly. He eventually got in a groove with Calgary the following year, but league play was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. And when he made his Wild debut last season, the schedule was scaled back to 56 regular-season games.
Now, a normal 82-game marathon is on deck and although Talbot could be in store for a busier itinerary than he's had recently, the 34-year-old netminder believes the more action he's faced, the better he's performed.
"I feel my best when I'm rolling," Talbot said. "You don't really get a chance to think. You just go out there and play. Whether it's a good night the night before or even a rough one, it's even better to get back in there and put it behind you and get another solid start under your belt.
"For me, I like playing as much as possible. But I know in an 82-game season with travel, it's a grind. Just going to have to manage it as we go."
Talbot received a preview of what's to come Thursday, making his first appearance of the preseason at Colorado after a strong start to his Wild career.
After the team signed him to a three-year, $11 million contract to replace Devan Dubnyk and become its new No. 1, Talbot justified his return to the starting goalie ranks by going 19-8-5 with a 2.63 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. He was even sharper in the playoffs, with a .923 save percentage and two shutouts in the seven-game loss to Vegas.
"I thought overall my game was pretty consistent, and that's what I try to do," said Talbot, who's reunited with backup Kaapo Kahkonen. "I never try to get too high or too low. I hope there's no peaks or valleys in my season."
