Cam Talbot, the Ottawa Senators' goaltender, who was regarded as a 'major' acquisition in the off-season, has been benched for the last night's game against the Florida Panthers. Talbot was picked up by the Senators via trade with the Minnesota Wild in July 2022, but was a healthy scratch for the game. The decision was based on Talbot's underperformance this season, according to Bruce Garrioch, an Ottawa Sun reporter.
Despite high expectations for Talbot, he has had a lackluster record of 16-14-2 in 35 games played, along with some injuries, leading to disappointment for the Senators' management. Additionally, Talbot and his camp are reportedly looking for a contract of $5 million per year to return to Ottawa, which could cause more concern for the team, given his recent performance.