Flyers take 'calculated risk' with Talbot acquisition

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said acquiring goalie Cam Talbot was a move made with this season and next season in mind.

Talbot was acquired in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers on Friday for goalie Anthony Stolarz.
Fletcher said Saturday that a goalie tandem of Talbot and rookie Carter Hart can help Philadelphia in its pursuit to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Flyers, who won 6-5 in overtime against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, are six points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
RELATED: [Talbot traded to Flyers by Oilers]
The Flyers have been relying on Hart, a 20-year-old in his first season of professional hockey, but clearly Fletcher is placing a premium on the experience of Talbot, who is 31 and has played 284 regular-season games and 15 playoff games.
In 31 games (29 starts) this season, Talbot is 10-15-3 with a 3.36 goals-against average and .893 save percentage. Hart is 12-6-1 with a 2.62 GAA and .921 save percentage in 19 games, including starting 12 of the past 15.
Now, coach Scott Gordon can turn to an experienced backup to make sure Hart's workload stays reasonable.
"I think the important thing is we've added another quality guy," Fletcher said. "Starting today we have 25 games over the next 50 days. There's a lot of hockey left to be played and we want to make sure we're protected."

Talbot also supplies a level of comfort for Hart. They have been workout partners the previous two summers and Hart said he texted Talbot before his first NHL game against the Red Wings on Dec. 18.
"This past summer every time we were on the ice, we were on the ice together," Talbot said. "It's been fun to watch him do his thing since he's been called up. He gave me a call before his first NHL game and asked a few questions, wanted to pick my brain about a few things. That's what makes him as good as he's been. He's willing and eager to learn, he's a hard worker. He wants to get better, he wants that help and guidance from people so he's not afraid to ask for it. That's what makes him so successful right now."
Talbot won't arrive in time for the Flyers' game against the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday (6 p.m. ET; NBCSN), but Hart is looking forward to talking to Talbot in person, rather than texting him for advice.
"He's a veteran guy. He's been an elite goaltender in the League for many years," Hart said. "It'll be cool to see up close what he does during the season, how he carries himself as a pro. I got a taste of it in the summer, what he does. The guy's work ethic is remarkable."
But Talbot wasn't acquired for his mentoring ability. The Flyers have three goalies under contract for next season in Hart, Alex Lyon, who has played in 13 NHL games, and Felix Sandstrom, who was selected in the third round (No. 70) in the 2015 NHL Draft and is currently playing for HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League.
Although Talbot can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, bringing him in now gives Philadelphia a chance to evaluate him well ahead of that time.
"Cam's a goalie that's had some success, and for us it's an opportunity to see what he looks like playing for the orange and black and see how he does," Fletcher said. "It's as simple as that. I guess it's a calculated risk. But for me, it makes perfect sense for us to get to know Cam and for Cam to get to know us. And if it fits well, we can move forward. If not, then it doesn't. It's just as simple as that.
"This is an opportunity to get a guy that's been a No. 1 in the League, he's been a No. 2 in the League. He's had a lot of experience, played over 280 games. I think he'll just give this organization a shot in the arm right now."