Friday, July 1, 2011
Posted: 2:36 p.m.Updated: 9:44 p.m.
By Sarah BaickerCSNPhilly.com
Max Talbot considers himself a loyal guy. So as the countdown toward free agency progressed, the 27-year-old center had maintained hope that hed find a way to remain with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team with which hed spent all six years of his NHL career.
But when last Thursday came and went, Talbot began to realize it was time to start thinking about which other teams he might like to join.
Thats when I realized that I may not go back to Pittsburgh, Talbot said. So Ive got to go to bed at night and try to visualize myself in another jersey.
Apparently, Talbot went to sleep dreaming in orange. On Friday afternoon, he signed a five-year, 9 million deal with the Flyers. They were his clear-cut favorites, he said, despite the numerous offers he had received from around the league.
I had three different factors, Talbot said. The first was to be able to play for a winning team and a winning organization. Leaving Pittsburghwhen you play with one of the top organizations in the league, you dont want to go to an organization where its not as good. The team, the players, the chance to win was the first factor.
After that, it was more security, meaning the years. Not knowing whats going to happen, we were obviously pushing towards the years. Obviously after that, the money comes. Its nice to see a mix of veteran guys and youth with the trades the Flyers did lately.
NHL
Talbot is a proven third- or fourth-line center, but his versatility was a great part of what piqued general manager Paul Holmgrens interest. Hes spent time playing on the wing, as well, which he did in 2009, when the Penguins won the Stanley Cupthe year he played my best hockey, Talbot said.
"Maxime Talbot is a guy who can play left wing, he can play center, hes a useful guy who can move up and down your lineup," Holmgren said. "I think we all witnessed that in Pittsburgh. You probably called him an a------ a few times too in Pittsburgh, but now hes on our team."
But there's an off-ice role Talbot can occupy, too, that will certainly help the Flyers: leader and experienced locker room presence. With the losses of Sean O'Donnell and Ian Laperriere, there's been a need for a character guy in the dressing room. Talbot said he and Holmgren talked about that, too.
"One of my roles on this team is going to be to glue this team as much as I can, to bring some leadership experience in and bring what I can in the room and on the bench," Talbot said. "Im excited about that for sure."
Said Holmgren, "Hes got a lot of qualities that Ian Laperriere has. I think more than anything, hell be good for Brayden Schenn. Maybe hes a guy who can play with Brayden, or Sean Couturier down the road. Its not closing the door on anyone. I think hes going to help in involving the young kids that we have high hopes for."
The 5-foot-11 forward is also well regarded as a talented penalty killer, something the Flyers are in need of, after trading Darroll Powe to the Minnesota Wild last week. Talbot averaged the second-highest amount of time among forwards on the Penguins penalty killing unit, which was the NHLs best.
I really take pride in that, Talbot said.Ive been playing penalty killing first and second units for six years now, and I take pride in blocking shots and avoiding goals scored against me.
Talbot isn't exactly much of a goal-scorer (he had eight goals and 13 assists last season). But he has come through at critical timeshe netted the 2009 Stanley Cup-winning goal in Game 7.
That was obviously something great in my career, he said, and Im more than ready and willing to do it for the Philadelphia Flyers.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow her on Twitter at @SBaickerCSN.
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