Things are heating up around Talbot in Edmonton!

There's no doubt that Mikko Koskinen has taken the net from Cam Talbot at this point, and things were made clear about the future in Edmonton when he signed a three-year contract reportedly worth $13 million last week, just before the Oilers fired general manager Peter Chiarelli. 

If you think that the Oilers won't pull a move ahead of the trade deadline because there is no GM in place at the moment: you're wrong. As reported this morning by NHL insider Darren Dreger, who was on the air of Montreal's TSN 690, it seems like a deal could take place sooner rather than later in Edmonton and all eyes are on Talbot. 

“You’ve got Cam Talbot from the Edmonton Oilers who’s in play, obviously, given the Koskinen contract extension,” noted Dreger as part of a discussion on the Detroit Red Wings and the overall NHL goalie market. “My information as of yesterday was that things are starting to heat up in Edmonton around Talbot. I wouldn’t say a deal is imminent, but the interest is developing.”

Talbot is a pending unrestricted free agent in the final season of a three-year, $12.5 million contract. The deal however includes a modified no-trade clause through which he can reject 10 teams. The veteran netminder has struggled as of late and it is believed that the price for Talbot wouldn’t be high as a rental because he’s short-term and his stats aren't great... 

“Talbot is going to fetch something that matters in return,” added Dreger late on Thursday during an appearance on Edmonton's TSN 1260. “But it’s not going to be a top-six forward. So what’s it likely going to be. Is it a young NHL roster player and a pick. Is it a better pick and a prospect. I don’t know what the Oilers are looking for Talbot. What I know is that the interest is developing around Cam Talbot.”

“I’d be surprised if Cam Talbot is with the Oilers after February 25. And I feel like somebody is going to make it interesting and make that group - Keith Gretzky, Bob Nicholson, whoever else is providing influence, obviously Ken Hitchcock - stop and think. Because you’re right, it is about creating cap space.”

“We’ve got to figure out how strong the market is. There’s a difference between tire-kickers and teams that are willing to give up some assets to acquire a player, and I think that’s what Gretzky and company are trying to figure out now.”

We are less than a month away... Talbot could already be packing boxes...