Cam Talbot to lead the Rangers with Lundqvist out for a month
Lundqvist will now be out a month (Getty)
“In Cam We Trust” is going to be the new mantra around these parts for at least the next 12-14 games.
While no official word has been divulged from the Rangers organization, Larry Brooks of the NY Post has learned that Henrik Lundqvist will miss a month with a neck injury.
BREAKING: Post has learned that Lundqvist will be sidelined for at least one month with neck injury. https://t.co/UcQLiNBx9p via @nypost
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) February 6, 2015
This news serves as a blow to the Rangers hopes of capturing the Eastern Conference, even though Cam Talbot is a capable backup. Larry Brooks was not able to identify what the exact issue was but did note it wasn’t a blood clot.
[su_quote cite=”Larry Brooks” url=”https://nypost.com/2015/02/06/rangers-lose-henrik-lundqvist-for-a-month-or-more/”]Sources have told The Post that Lundqvist did not develop a blood clot, nor is he is suffering from nerve damage or post-concussion symptoms. But whatever it is, it will require a recovery period of at least four weeks, if not longer.[/su_quote]
The Rangers will be in action in Nashville on Saturday. If Lundqvist is indeed out 4 weeks, he may miss a total of 12-14 games (approx 1/3 of the remainder of the season). NY of course, has total faith in Cam Talbot who is sporting a stellar .924 save percentage and 2.10 GAA.
When the Rangers beat the Boston Bruins, his teammates expressed utter and complete confidence in Talbot. Of course, Talbot got the biggest endorsement of all from his head coach.
[su_quote cite=”Blueshirts United” url=”https://www.blueshirtsunited.com/article/henrik-out-tonight-day-day-neck-injury”]”I think our whole team is very comfortable when Cam is in there,” stated Vigneault. “After starting his season with an average start, he had those three shutouts and has given us a chance to win in every game he’s been in goal since. We are very confident when Cam is in goal. I’m sure he’s going to be fine tonight.” [/su_quote]
Cam Talbot will be the man in net for awhile (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Cam Talbot recently extended his contract with the Rangers, because he wanted more time to learn under Lundqvist. Talbot’s agent George Bazos told NYDN columnist Stephen Lorenzo, “He wanted to stick around because he really likes the team, he likes New York, he likes the coaches, he likes Benoit Allaire a lot.”
Benoit Allaire is considered one of the league’s best goalie coaches and it’s not a surprise he factored in Talbot’s decision. According to Bazos, Cam turned down multi year offers from the Rangers because his ambition is to become a #1 goalie. However, Cam didn’t feel ready with just a few starts under his belt.
“He’s played in his 28th career NHL game which is probably not enough at this point for another team to come right out and say you’re ready to be a #1 goalie,” Bazos told the NYDN back in December. The feeling is that Cam could learn so much more under Lundqvist and Allaire than just being thrown into the top spot on a potentially bad team next season.
Now, Talbot will accelerate his timetable and have a month or more to prove he can be the man in between the pipes.
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