A former Edmonton Oilers goaltender is going to Calgary, and a former Calgary Flames goaltender is going to Edmonton. Calgary signed Cam Talbot to a $2.75 million, one-year deal, while Edmonton has agreed to sign Mike Smith to a $2 million, one-year deal with incentives.
After losing his starting job in Edmonton last season, Talbot was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in February. In Philadelphia, he became the team's eighth goalie of the season, a record.
But Talbot, 31, played in only four games for the Flyers and finished the season with 3.62 goals-against average and .892 save percentage. That's a far cry from his 2016-17 season, when his league-leading 42 wins, 2.39 GAA and .919 save percentage helped the Oilers break a decade-long playoff drought.
Talbot's previous contract was a three-year deal with a salary-cap hit of $4.167 million.
He is thrilled to be moving back to Alberta just down the highway from where he put down roots in Edmonton.
"This is a great place. A great province," he said, according to the team website. "We sold our place back in Ontario and it's been the better part of four years now so why not make it a fifth. When we go on some long road trips Calgary's nice and close so my wife's only a three-hour drive from home. We're excited about that."
Smith helped the Flames to a Pacific Division title last season by going 23-16-2 with a 2.72 goals-against average and .898 save percentage. When he sputtered in the first half of the season, David Rittich took over. When he stumbled down the stretch, Smith was back.
But the team came up short in the playoffs, losing in five games in the first round to the Colorado Avalanche. Following a Game 1 shutout, Smith allowed at least three goals in each of Calgary's losses.
Talbot said he isn't in Calgary to take the job from Rittich, who is a restricted free agent.
"I'm just looking forward to getting to Calgary, to fit in with David, push each other every day and at the same time come in and re-establish myself," he said.
The 37-year-old Smith is coming off a six-year, $34 million contract that he initially signed with the Coyotes but finished with the Flames after a June 2017 trade.
Smith, a two-time All-Star, is one of 12 goalies with at least 500 games played (571). For his career, he has a 2.70 GAA and a .912 save percentage.