Detroit Red Wings

Buzz Building for Desired Trade Reunion With Former Oilers’ Goaltender

Trade buzz grows around a possible Cam Talbot reunion with the Oilers. With Edmonton’s goaltending under scrutiny, is Talbot an option?

by
NHL Trade Talk
November 18, 2025

The Edmonton Oilers may not be actively shopping for a new goaltender, but the desire to see what’s out there as an upgrade has to be growing. After another blowout loss — this time a 5–1 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres — conversations around upgrading the crease continue. Stuart Skinner wasn’t the problem Monday night, yet games like that seem to leave him in the crosshairs, and his numbers take a hit.

In the macro view, his inconsistency continues to make fans nervous, and with Calvin Pickard struggling even more than Skinner is, the need for stability feels impossible to ignore.

That’s where a familiar name keeps popping up: Cam Talbot.

Is Cam Talbot Someone Who Should Be on the Oilers’ Radar?

Several insiders, including David Pagnotta, have repeatedly linked Talbot to the Oilers as a midseason option. Pagnotta noted on multiple shows that Talbot’s low cap hit, expiring contract, and lack of no-trade protection make him a realistic target. “If I’m the Oilers… maybe that’s a call worth making,” Pagnotta said, adding that Talbot would be “motivated to join a potential contender.”

Now playing for the Detroit Red Wings, Talbot has posted a 7-2-0 record with a 2.71 GAA and .896 save percentage — solid numbers behind a decent team. He knows the Oilers, having played in Edmonton before, and Talbot remains a composed, respected veteran. He’s getting looks in Detroit, so the Red Wings might not be thinking about a move. If that changes, he represents the kind of “win now” support that could help Edmonton.

Talbot wasn’t a superstar goalie with elite numbers, but he is remembered fondly in Edmonton. More importantly, he fits the budget and offers immediate insurance when paired with Skinner. But there’s a catch — Oilers Daily suggests that a Talbot return is “unlikely” and suggests he may not be eager to come back to Edmonton.

The Oilers wouldn’t have to move Skinner to make this move. In fact, it seems likely the Red Wings wouldn’t want a goalie in return. What they’d have to move and what the ask would be is unclear.

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