DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills wrote an article which discusses Red Wings free agent signing Max Talbot’s remarks regarding joining the team as a 37-year-old goaltender:
While weighing his options during 2024 NHL free agency, goalie Cam Talbot considered his role for each potential team, but the 37-year-old largely focused on what opportunity made the most sense off the ice for his family.
That’s why Talbot was happy he found an ideal fit with the Detroit Red Wings, who signed the netminder to a two-year free-agent contract on July 1.
“I seem to be part of (free agency) every summer,” Talbot said in his introductory Zoom call with the media on July 2. “You never really get used to it, especially with kids and family now. There’s a lot more to think about – situations, term, length, all that stuff. Detroit really checked a lot of boxes for me.”
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Adjusting to a different system is the biggest challenge a goalie faces when joining a new club, according to Talbot.
“I usually come to the city three to four weeks before camp to try to skate with the guys as much as possible, get to know them as much as I can,” Talbot said. “Figure out certain tendencies that the team has and that I can work my way into before camp even starts.”
Talbot said he’s excited to familiarize himself with the Detroit area, where his wife, Kelly, grew up until she was a teenager.
“She’s got some family in the area, which we’ve never had on any of the teams I’ve been part of,” Talbot said. “It will be nice to be close to family.”
Continued; this is a good place for a veteran player to put down roots. Many, many NHL’ers who finished their careers with the Red Wings have chosen to remain in Metro Detroit for their retirement because Detroit’s suburbs are so well-regarded.
