On the heels of a 2014-15 season in which he recorded a total of five goals and 18 points in 81 games combined between Colorado and Boston, Talbot slots in as a fourth-liner for the Bruins, a role that he is well suited for given the energy and spark that he can still bring to the table at the age of 31. Fantasy relevance does not appear in the cards for the veteran forward, however, in his current depth role.
Talbot had his season cut short after 35 games when he fractured his leg. No reports have indicated he won't be ready for the start of the 2013-14 campaign, so look for the 29-year-old to continue to post modest offensive numbers with some bonus PIMs.
Talbot managed a career-high 34 points with the Flyers in 81 games during the 2011-12 season after leaving Pittsburgh to wear orange and black. He’s certainly not a star offensive player, but he can be counted on for consistent points and a handful of PIMs and is worth a look in deep leagues that roll multiple forwards. Talbot is used primarily as a defensive forward, but he can chip in with a goal or two when needed.
Talbot took a five-year, $9 million contract to jump across Pennsylvania from the Pens to the Flyers this summer, with Philly looking to shore up a penalty-killing unit that left plenty to be desired a year ago. The 27-year-old isn't exactly a fantasy owners' dream, but he'll consistently give you over 20 points and 50 PIMs if he's able to stay healthy.
Talbot went from hero to zero in 2009-10. After undergoing shoulder surgery following the Pens’ Stanley Cup run, Talbot totaled just seven points (2, 5) in 45 regular season contests. In keeping with accordance with his big-game reputation, the flamboyant forward nearly equaled his regular-season point production with two goals and four assists in 13 playoff games. The Penguins need a healthy Talbot in 2010-11 for several reasons. The team is up against the salary cap and free agent departures like Ruslan Fedotenko and Alexei Ponikarovsky have lessened the team’s depth at forward. Of course, some might argue that getting rid of the aforementioned two players might prove to be addition by subtraction. Either way, Talbot will get plenty of chances on one of the top two lines. He’s shown chemistry with Evgeni Malkin in the past. It’s possible that Talbot, Malkin and Jordan Staal could form a solid No. 2 line. If that happens, Talbot will have some untapped fantasy value as a late-round draft pick or waiver wire pickup.
Talbot is expected to miss at least the first month of the 2009-10 season and more likely two to three months. From a fantasy perspective, Talbot had a disappointing regular season with just 22 points (12, 10) in 75 games and a minus-9 rating. Talbot will forever be remembered in Pittsburgh, however, for scoring both goals in a 2-1 Game 7 Stanley Cup clinching win over Detroit. He has the potential to score 20 goals in his prime, but that probably won't happen due to injury this season.
Talbot batted through injuries to finish with 26 points (12, 14) in 63 games a year ago. His attention to detail at both ends of the rink has made him an important part of the Penguins. Whether that translates into a 20-goal season remains to be seen, but the potential is there.
Coach Michel Therrien won't let Talbot sniff either of the Pens' top two lines but the 23-year-old center has crafted a nice niche with the team as a penalty killer and energy player. Last year Talbot netted four short-handed goals among his 13 scores. It wouldn't be surprising to see him top out around 20 goals at his peak.
Talbot is a gritty player who is strong at killing penalties. For whatever reason, however, it seems as though coach Michel Therrien and Talbot don't get along. Talbot was sent to the AHL midway through the season last year despite being one of the few players showing passion on the team. The 22-year-old center finished the season strong in the postseason, scoring nine points in 11 games for Wilkes-Barre. He's a better player on the ice than he is on fantasy sheets.
The 21-year-old center will hone his skills in the minors in 2005-06. He has shown the ability to raise his game -- he was the MVP of the QMJHL playoffs in 2003-04, so Talbot is worth keeping an eye on down the road.
