Pensburgh wrapup: Max Talbot
by GoPens! on Jun 14, 2010 8:37 AM EDT
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Season stats: 45gp, 2g, 5a, 7p, -9, 30 PIMs
Playoff stats: 13gp, 2g, 4a, 6p, +1, 11 PIMs
Month-by-month Pensburgh grades:
October: I
November: C
December: C-
January: C-
February: I
March: D+
Playoffs: D
Contract Status: Signed through 2010-2011 ($1.05 million cap hit). Becomes a restricted free agent in the summer of 2011.
Interesting Stat: Among all Penguins who played at least 20 regular season games this year, Talbot had the best GA/60 while killing penalties.
The Good: Talbot saw 2:06 minutes of shorthanded ice time per game, good for 9th on the team. And while on the penalty kill, he had the best adjusted +/- rating of any Penguins player. Furthermore, he wasn't afraid to use his body, even though he was fighting injuries, as he was credited with 77 hits this year, good for 11th on the team.
The Not-so-good: Talbot never seemed to make a full comeback this year. In about 450 minutes of even strength ice time, Talbot only managed to collect seven points, and his 41.2% faceoff winning percentage is fifth out of the six Penguins players who took at least 100 draws this year. Talbot also had the third worst relative Corsi on the team, indicating that he spent most of his time defending in his own zone.
Adding some context to the picture doesn't provide much relief: Talbot had the worst even strength adjusted +/- (-1.50) among Penguins players who started at least 20 games this year, and he was playing against some of the easiest competition (only Eric Godard and Craig Adams had it easier).
Final Verdict: Talbot had a rough year. He battled through some nasty injuries and might never have been at 100%. On top of that, the coaches might not have been clear as to what role he was to play on the team. Is he a 4th line grinder who plays tough minutes, or a top six forward who is supposed to pot 25-30 goals alongside Evgeni Malkin? Entering the 2010 season fully healthy and with a new perspective will probably help Talbot return to the player we all loved in 2009.
Questions and Discussion: Do you think Talbot will regain his form and become an impact player for the Penguins next year? Does he have the skill and ability to be a top six forward on the team?
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The unfortunate truth is that he’s valuable trade bait despite his substellar year. He’s versatile, and inexpensive and as mentioned above, he didn’t really have a place on the team this year. Being a great buddy for the star players didn’t save Colby from being packaged and jettisoned, and I fear Max will suffer the same fate.
Oh, and as far as being a top-6 guy, no I don’t think so, but that doesn’t mean the Pens won’t play him there. They usually only have 4 or 5 top-6 guys anyway.
I think Talbot could be trade bait, if only because the Penguins don’t really have too many chips to trade away.
I’m not ready to write him off — this was a lost season for him injury wise, but I still don’t know what Talbot’s role is with this team. He’s a center that won’t be anything more than a 4th line center, and he’s not good enough to play Top 6 minutes every single game.
He’s a great team guy, good energy player and PK’er, so he’s probably worth keeping in that 4C role, but it almost feels like he’s got more to give than that.
He’s a center that won’t be anything more than a 4th line center,
That should be “on this team”, though really he’s not a 3rd line C on a lot of NHL teams out there either.
I concur, I love Max but he had a very, very bad year after his surgery.
And he really is a 3d or 4th line guy. Not a top line guy.
Could be be trade bait? Yes. But we all have to wait and see, which I am tired
of saying; we really don’t know what his role will be.
We don’t know what Shero will do but I don’t think he has the guts to do anything
drastic and ballsy.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 14, 2010 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions
We don’t know what Shero will do but I don’t think he has the guts to do anything drastic and ballsy.
Really? What makes you say that?
Go, Shero, Go!!! And also Brian Burke.
Oh, I don’t know —like trade Malkin! —just kidding. LOL
Do you think he has the guts to let Gonchar go? And move forward, thinking of the future.? I understand it’s all about the money and the cap space, or lack of it. Do you think Gonchar should stay? I know the issue is the number of years Gonch wants…will he accept the hometown discount?
I was so angry after they way Gonchar played during game 7, I wanted him to be gone. I know all the Pens palyed poorly, but he was the worst. Somethings I have a hard time forgiving and forgetting.
I just want a couple of real Defensemen, not puck moving guys. We already have alot of those.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 14, 2010 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Hm. (Btw, now I understand your Malkin-related comment in the other thread ;))
I guess I see Shero as a guy who does his best to get the whole picture, and then he works to try and put the best team together that he can, given the cap and the pieces that are already in place. I think he knows exactly what the issues are with Gonchar, but he also knows that Letang and/or Goligosky are a step or two away from hitting their stride. And I think he’s proven with other players that he’s willing to make tough decisions for the sake of the team. And he won’t be bullied into giving big contracts just because other teams are willing to pay it.
That, and he has a pretty competent support staff that helps provide perspective.
Of course, maybe I’m seeing Shero through the lens of John Ferguson, Jr. (arguably the worst GM in the history of the Leafs, and possibly the entire league …), which would make just about anyone seem brilliant. But I think he’s a guy with both business and hockey smarts.
Go, Shero, Go!!! And also Brian Burke.
by PopRocks on Jun 14, 2010 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t think he’ll be trade bait this offseason, especially after the down year he had. I’d like to see Max next year when he’s fully healthy and with an established role. I think he’s got more in the tank than his performance this year might have indicated.
Author at Pensburgh.com
I agree
I’d like to see what a healthy Talbot can do this season before getting too worried.
by Mario's Mullet on Jun 14, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Talbot more valuable than #s
What is a guy coming off a really down year worth as “trade bait?” Not much, right?
Talbot isn’t quite a Top 6 guy, but he can play there and be effective for stretches. See: 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs. He’s clutch and gives his all. You don’t trade guys like that—esp. not when their market value is lowest.
I view him as a sort of tandem with Tangradi and Letestu/Jeffrey.
Re: Tangradi, Talbot is a pivot, but also plays both wings with a preference for LW > RW.
Hopefully Tangradi makes the team out of camp, but even if he does, it is unlikely he will be handed a Top 6 role immediately.
Talbot can hold down Tangradi’s spot until he’s ready.
Then, he can move to 4C (bumping out Letestu or Jeffrey (or maybe Adams)) until/unless he’s needed in a more prominent role.
He’s flexible, he’s signed to a reasonable contract, he’s great in the clubhouse, he’s homegrown, and he’s money.
by Mario Lemieux #66 on Jun 14, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
In answer to your last question, no, he does not have the talent to be a top 6 forward in this league. He has skills, of course, but not as a top 6.
That being said, I think Kunitz is a huge under achiever, and for what he is being paid, needs to put alot more pucks in the net. Kunitz is average, at best.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 14, 2010 9:26 AM EDT reply actions
what he is being paid, needs to put alot more pucks in the net.
I agree entirely. For about $3.8 million next year, he’s going to need to be a 30 goal guy considering he regularly plays with Crosby. I don’t think it’s enough for him to simply hit guys and retrieve some pucks from the corner.
I will however reserve judgment on him until next season. I know he played a lot of the year hurt (I think it was his abdominal), and I can’t imagine he was ever close to 100%.
Author at Pensburgh.com
I forgot—Kuntiz did have stomach surgery this season! Sorry about that. He could not have been at 100% either and that sucks.
I will still hold the opinion that, when we first traded for him, he never has been in top form and has not scored the number og goals his salary dictates.
But I will give him a pass because of his surgery.
Maybe he was at 100% after his surgery? What do you all think?
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 14, 2010 9:47 AM EDT reply actions
I don’t think he was ever at 100% this season. Even after guys have surgery, I’m sure the team puts them on an expedited time table and tries to get them back a bit quicker than the average person.
Author at Pensburgh.com
Two-Goal Talbot
.
Tough year for Max. I don’t think he will be a full-time top 6 guy for us, but if he comes back healthy next year he should be able to make a good impact on the team.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 14, 2010 9:52 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
So far I only have them for the last four guys who have been recapped, and I’ve started them for a couple of players still to be recapped.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 14, 2010 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Awesome. For the record though, I’m jealous I can’t go to as many games as you…
Author at Pensburgh.com
It’s been a good run the last few years. It will be interesting to see what the ticket market is like in the new arena.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jun 14, 2010 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions
PAYD,
I love all your pictures! These are great!
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jun 14, 2010 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Talbot's role
I’d rather see Talbot center the 3rd line with Kennedy and Cooke and bump Staal up to 2nd line center with Malkin on a wing. IMO you maintain your solid 3rd line while strengthening your 2nd line.
Not a terrible idea
But make no mistake, Staal is the strength of that 3rd line. I love me some Tiger and Cooke Monster, but withouth Staal, that line is not that impressive. I don’t think you quite maintain that solid 3rd line. Talbots a 4th liner that can plug in elsewhere temporarily. We’d miss him on the PK more than anything else.
That said, he’s cheap and earns his money every shift. Which is why I think he’s valuable to bolster a trade without negatively affecting the team in his absence.
2nd line
I’ve always been a supporter of the Malkin-Staal line look it has worked in the past and it would bump him to the 60 point range and I’m confident in that.
If Cooke is resigned he easily takes over that third line “leader” role. Talbot could easily centre that line as well. They still have the speed, grit, and forecheck. Kennedy has a respectable shot, Cooke is a banger, and Talbot gets the puck to the net. That line would be fine without Staal and that 2nd line would be 50x better.
I don’t like the idea of plugging players in and out. The Penguins need established lines!
I don’t like the idea of plugging players in and out. The Penguins need established lines!
I agree that established lines will help with offensive production, but I’m not sure removing Staal from the third line won’t have catastrophic consequences. He seems to be a big reason why they’re so successful, and I’m not sure a line with Kennedy, Cooke, Talbot/Letestu would be able to generate the same quality of play as the Staal line has in the past.
Author at Pensburgh.com
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