Fantasy Take: Talbot Signs With LA

Ian Gooding

2023-07-01

The Los Angeles Kings have signed goalie Cam Talbot to a one-year contract.

Talbot finished 2022-23 with a 2.93 GAA and .898 SV% in 36 games. He was expected to be the starter in Ottawa after being traded there from Minnesota last offseason. However, injuries got in the way, which have to be a concern now that Talbot is 35 years old and was used as a high-workload starter earlier in his career with Edmonton.

Cap space is likely the reason, but the Kings probably would have been better off targeting Tristan Jarry, Frederik Andersen, or even UFA Joonas Korpisalo, who they had acquired at the deadline. Regardless, it looks like the Kings will enter 2023-24 with a goalie tandem of Talbot and Pheonix Copley, with Talbot more likely the opening-night starter. If Talbot stays healthy all season (and that's a big IF), the starts could be 60/40 in his favor. If not, which seems like a decent bet, then this starts to lean more in Copley's direction.

With Copley a potential timeshare goalie, Talbot doesn't have to be overused, which will help the latter stay healthy. Copley stood to lose value anyway since the Kings were always going to be in the market for another goalie anyway. Yet acquiring Talbot over a younger, higher-volume starter has to be considered a win for Copley's fantasy value.

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Players this helps, in order:

Talbot

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Players this hurts, in order:

Copley (sort of)