Max Talbot practices, world shakes in anticipation

by Hooks Orpik on Oct 19, 2009 12:19 PM EDT in News Comment 13 comments

"Ok, everyone who scored a goal in Game 7 last season gets to wear a red jersey!"

Penguins forward Maxime Talbot, who has been sidelined this season following offseason shoulder surgery, practiced with his teammates for the first time this year.

Talbot, who wore the red "no contact" jersey, has been skating and working on his own since Sept. 29. But today marked the first time he went through a portion of practice with the rest of the team.

Talbot's timetable to return has been placed at late November - early December. It's unknown if that's been expedited at all in lieu of recent progress he's made.

When Talbot returns, what role will he be asked to play? The Penguins haven't gotten much regular strength production from Evgeni Malkin's linemates -- Ruslan Fedotenko has just 3 ES points and they've auditioned a lot of guys on the other side like Pascal Dupuis, and briefly Chris Bourque and Jordan Staal. Staal's been effective, but given his propensity to play center, doesn't seem like it'll be a long-term option.

Talbot, an internationally reknowned superstar for his clutch playoff scoring, is not a regular season point producer game in and game out. So even if he may not be the answer for the full-time 2nd line spot, his energy and attitude's a positive for the team and ought to bring a further boost to the penalty kill.

First things first though, Talbot's still got a lot of rehab and pracitices to go before the Superstar is back. But after today he is one step closer.

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I guess our training staff is getting good with shoulders. Malkin, Gonchar, and now Talbot. Am I missing anyone?

It will be interesting to see what they do roster wise when he comes back. Even though Duper is in the midst of a career high ‘one’ game goal scoring streak, I’d still rather see Chris Bourque get ice time. And with Superstar back, he would cover for Duper’s PK responsibilities.

by ButchersDog on Oct 19, 2009 1:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah dupuis’ has a 1 way contract, probably the only 1 that shero can regret. its not the player its the price. he’s about as effective as craig adams who makes 550,000 while dupers making 1.4 mllion. The kicker is if shero puts him on waivers, another team will get him for 700,000, which he’s worth just for the penalty killing, and the pens will still have to foot the 700 k other half of the bill. and for 2 seasons. The leafs should take him for his PK, but the only way you get rid of a bad contract is to get another 1 back. I’d say Dupuis will be around for a while. Unfortunately for Cap reasons Dupuis should fight and play reckless all the time until he gets hurt, atliest on Injured reserve hes off the books LOL.
He is good in the locker room with the french players especially, I don’t think hes weighing things down too much.

Phili B

by ColeHarbour on Oct 19, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Letang’s shoulder was hurt in the playoffs too.

by Max Powers on Oct 19, 2009 2:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

more shoulders

yea mike zigomanis was also out b/c of a shoulder. it seems the pens go “seasonal injuries” 2 seasons ago it was “the year of the high ankle sprain” and last season it was the shoulder.

by muskid on Oct 19, 2009 2:46 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

oh yea possibly Sykora as well? (not sure if it was ever confirmed)

by muskid on Oct 19, 2009 2:47 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I think you’re all right with naming the shoulder injuries (though Malkin’s injury was a while ago in the beginning of the 2006-07 season)

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Oct 19, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Of all of the shoulder injuries, I think Aaron Smith’s may be the most notable in Pittsburgh this year.

As an aside, I hope Max had some time to film a new A&L Motors commercial while he was on the shelf.

by ButchersDog on Oct 19, 2009 3:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think Talbot did hint that they made another commericial this season.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Oct 19, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thats awesome. cant wait to see it.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are your Stanley Cup Champions!!

by jetpen89 on Oct 19, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m just glad he’s able to practice!

And you learn something new every day—I had no idea such a thing as a “no contact” jersey existed, but it’s brilliant. I’m not sure the color of two of the Penguins’ fiercest rivals was such a good one to use for that purpose, though…

"Darling, you say Brooks Orpik 'checked' that guy. He did not 'get under him and put him into the wall'."--Beloved to me, Winter 2007

"Don't beat yourself!"--Darrell Waltrip

by GreenEyedLilo on Oct 19, 2009 4:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah, I also didn’t know how the players see that “he hasn’t been cleared for contact”… so here’s how… and about the colour – it’s still better than an orange-hit-me-hard-and-often-jersey;)

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Oct 20, 2009 6:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If it was orange I’m sure it wouldn’t be long before we heard stories about Talbot biting another player’s fingers in practice. Wearing that color makes you do some crazy things.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 20, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs