To cite statistics or even specific saves and games in support of Henrik Lundqvist resuming his role as the Rangers' No. 1 goaltender the moment he is ready to do so is to legitimize debate on the subject.
It is to grant false equivalence between 10 years of excellence and six weeks of it.
There is no goaltending controversy surrounding the Rangers and there won't be as long as Lundqvist is healthy. This won't be a game-by-game or week-by-week issue. This won't be influenced by the level of the King's success (or lack thereof) upon his return. Lundqvist's position as franchise goaltender is etched in stone.
Cam Talbot was outstanding again in Wednesday's 1-0 defeat at the Garden to the Blackhawks that put an end to the Rangers' five-game winning streak. No. 33 has been a revelation as the interim standard-bearer, and everyone recognizes that. Ultimately, though, and as coach Alain Vigneault has repeatedly said, Talbot has simply been doing his job, albeit extremely well.
Talbot has been doing the job of a backup, stepping in as necessary for the No 1. That's not to denigrate his work, not in the least. Who would? Talbot's work has been exemplary, now having surrendered seven goals over his last eight starts for a 0.99 goals against average and .967 save percentage (while the Rangers, by the way, have scored 15 goals over that span and just 11 goals in the last seven, paging Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello, and yes, Rick Nash.)
But Talbot has been a place-holder for Lundqvist, the same way Rafael Soriano was a placeholder for Mariano Rivera during the final five months of the 2012 season for which the Yankees' legendary closer was on the disabled list.
At 27 Talbot has established his value on the ice to the Rangers. He has made 47 starts, going 29-13-5 over his two-year NHL career. It's impossible to ask a back-up to provide more value in a league where teams ideally want to limit their No. 1 to 60-65 starts a year.
But as Talbot has established a value on the ice, his value on the trade market is an open question. It is a wild a leap of faith to suggest that he would be able to bring back a first-round pick over the summer, though the Rangers certainly will attempt to frame him as worthy of such a pricey return, and certainly from a club with multiple first-rounders in June such as the goaltender-needy Oilers and perhaps needy Maple Leafs.
A frame of reference, here: when the Kings dealt in-demand backup Jonathan Bernier to Toronto following the 2012-13 season, L.A. got a backup goaltender in Ben Scrivens, a marginal forward in Matt Frattin and a second-rounder. Bernier at that point had a more comprehensive resume than Talbot, though never a sustained run like this.
Talbot had the opportunity to become unrestricted free agent this June, but the goaltender opted for some security — and the chance to add to resume before going on the market — by signing a one-year extension for $1.45 million.
That number represents a bargain for a No. 1. But the one-year term, with free agency looming in 2016, likely would represent an obstacle in the Rangers' effort to get maximum value back for Talbot after the season. Any team liable to trade for him would all but certainly want to know that he would be willing to sign an extension and forego the open market.
There aren't really all that many teams seeking a No. 1. Those who are might look twice within their organizations for a Talbot or Andrew Hammond of their own. Plus, somewhat complicating the issue, San Jose's Antti Niemi is poised to become a free agent, as is Calgary's Karri Ramo. The Wild's Devan Dubnyk is currently unsigned for next season, though it is hard to believe Minnesota would let him get away.
The point is, Talbot's value on the market is unknown. But Talbot's value on the ice to the Rangers is established. It is as Lundqvist's backup, ready to step in when, if, and for as long as necessary.
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