Flames and Oilers swap former No. 1 goalies in free agency

It’s not officially a trade, but the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers have swapped No. 1 goalies from last season.

The Flames have signed Cam Talbot to a one-year free agent contract worth $2.75 million. The Oilers, meanwhile, have signed former Flame Mike Smith to a one-year, $2 million deal.

See also

• Leafs sign Spezza and complete 6-player trade with Senators
• Canucks sign free agent Tyler Myers to 5-year, $30 million contract
• Montreal Canadiens sign free agent goaltender Keith Kinkaid

Talbot, who turns 32 this week, is five years younger than Smith. After three good seasons in Edmonton, Talbot struggled in year four.

The Caledonia, Ontario native posted an .893 save percentage in 31 games with the Oilers before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, where he appeared in just four games.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound goaltender has a career record of 138-112-24, with a 2.60 goals against average and a .915 save percentage.

It was an up-and-down two-year stint for Smith in Calgary.

Smith was excellent in 2017-18, posting a .916 save percentage, which kept the Flames in the playoff hunt before an injury helped to derail the team’s season. He struggled last season, posting a .898 save percentage before turning things around in the playoffs as Calgary’s best player.

Talbot will battle for playing time with Dave Rittich in Calgary’s crease, while Smith will compete for the net with Mikko Koskinen.