Report: Talbot unhappy with Wild after Fleury deal
Minnesota Wild goaltender Cam Talbot doesn't appear to be thrilled at the idea of sharing the crease again next season.
The veteran netminder shared his displeasure with Wild brass after Marc-Andre Fleury signed a two-year deal Thursday to remain with the club, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported during the draft Friday.
"Cam Talbot's representatives have met with (Wild general manager) Bill Guerin a couple times on the weekend, and Guerin has said publicly he wants to bring them both back. ... Talbot, he hasn't spoken yet, but the word is, he's definitely unhappy and the message has been conveyed," Friedman said.
Talbot's agent, George Bazos, didn't confirm his client is upset but did say they've talked to the Wild about the situation.
"We both stated our positions," Bazos told TSN's Pierre LeBrun. "Billy has a lot to think about."
Guerin had a fiery response to Bazos' comments.
"I don't have shit to do," Guerin said, per The Athletic's Michael Russo. "Cam Talbot's under contract. George can say whatever the hell he wants. My team's set right now, and that's the way it goes. We can have all the discussions we want. Cam's a member of our team. We really like Cam. All we're trying to do is win."
Talbot was Minnesota's starter for most of the 2021-22 season, going 32-12-4 with a .911 save percentage. He started just one playoff game in the first round against the St. Louis Blues, allowing four goals in a loss.
The Wild acquired Fleury prior to the trade deadline. The three-time Stanley Cup champion went 9-2 with a .910 clip in the regular season for Minnesota but struggled to a .906 save percentage and 3.06 goals-against average in the playoffs.
Talbot, 35, is under contract for one more season at a $3.66 million cap hit. Fleury will receive $3.5 million per year on his new deal.
If Talbot wants out, there should be a strong market for his services. Several teams across the league are seeking goaltending reinforcements, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, and Washington Capitals, among others.