25 / Forward / Colorado Avalanche



Height: 5' 11"

Weight: 190

Shoots: Left

Age: 31

2014-2015 Cap Hit: $1.75 Million

Contract Status: UFA after 2015-2016 season



GP G A P +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG

SOG PCT 2014-2015 60 4 10 14 -1 27 0 0 1

70 5.7

Who is Max Talbot?

A lot of people know Max Talbot as the guy who Steve Downie was traded for last season or Nathan MacKinnon's latest landlord. But Max Talbot has proven to be more than that during his tenure as an Avalanche. He's a valuable player on the penalty kill and can provide offense when it is absolutely necessary. But is Talbot's value on the Avalanche more valuable than his trade value?

Why Trade Talbot?

Up until around a week ago Max Talbot was just a humble fourth liner with a less than humble salary. With the Avs up closer to the cap than they should be, that in itself may be enough reason for Talbot to be out the door. Recently though, Talbot got a promotion to the first line along side Duchene and Iginla. Talbot has played well with the stars, but his offensive capabilities may be more of a hindrance than a help on the top line. One could argue that if the Avs wanted to keep a more roughage guy on an offensive line, they might as well have kept Steve Downie. But that trade has passed and we have to look at what the Avs may be able to get for a guy like Talbot. Could Talbot be turned for a first or second round pick? With that extra year on his contract, he may prove valuable to a team looking for a depth forward for a cup run.

Why Not to Trade Talbot:

Rag all you want on Talbot, but he has come to play when he's been desperately needed. Talbot's been on his A-game since scoring that shootout winner against the Stars. His presence on the top line has brought a bit of balance to all of the lines and has led to the Avs playing better possession hockey. While Talbot can't be named as the sole reason for the Avs' improved play, he does deserve credit. With that, maybe his one million in salary next year isn't such a big cost.

Final Verdict:

A month ago I would have traded Talbot in a heartbeat, but he has been proving his worth to this team over the last couple weeks. While he doesn't offer the offensive ability or grit that a guy like Steve Downie offered in his tenure as an Avalanche, Talbot does offer a sound defensive game and the ability to make a shot when necessary. For now, Talbot has value on the Avalanche, but that may change in the offseason. If the Avs can acquire a guy with similar skills at a similar or cheaper price, they may consider exploring Talbot's trade value, but for this trade deadline, I say Maxime stays.