The 33-year-old goalie was 12-10-1 with a 2.63 goals-against average, .919 save percentage and two shutouts in 26 games (22 starts) with the Calgary Flames last season and 5-4 with a 2.42 GAA, .924 save percentage and two shutouts in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"I think people kind of wrote me off after my last year in Edmonton (2018-19), and I had to go to Calgary and really work my way back up and prove to everyone that I was still capable of being that," Talbot said. "So I'm looking forward to being that guy again and getting back to where I was back in the '16-17 season 42 wins, 2.39 GAA, .919 save percentage, seven shutouts] and regain that form and really play and be able to string some games together. That's kind of when I'm at my best, when I'm playing the most."
***[RELATED: [NHL Free Agent Tracker]*
The Wild traded Devan Dubnyk, their starting goalie for the past six seasons, to the San Jose Sharks on Monday.
"Cam Talbot's our No. 1 goalie," Wild general manager Bill Guerin said. "That's his role, and that's why he came here. We believe that he's very well-suited for the position and for that role, and he's going to have a lot of success. He was our guy. I think the way we play, the defensemen that we have, the system that we play and having the No. 1 seat open, it's a very attractive place for a goalie, and we were happy to be able to land Cam Talbot.
"Just going through all the data that we have everything suggests that Cam was a good fit for us. The years that he had as a starter he had a lot of success. I think there was one off year … most recently. But then he's battled his way back into what we believe that he can be. He played great up in the bubble. We got to watch him firsthand, and he was one of the guys that we were targeting. When he became available, it was an easy choice for us."
Talbot just wanted the opportunity to prove himself again.
"They just said that the opportunity's there. That's all you can ask for as a goalie," Talbot said. "I'm looking forward to that opportunity again, so I'm excited. When they called, it seemed like a great fit. I wanted the opportunity to play more games. That's why I signed the one-year deal last year in Calgary, to prove that I still can, so the fact that [Guerin] saw that in me and brought me in to do so … it means a lot to me. Just want to reward that confidence and looking forward to that challenge."
