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NHL Lockout: Maxime Talbot signs overseas with Ilves in Finland

Maxime Talbot has decided to sign with Ilves in Finland for the remainder of the lockout, making him the second Philadelphia Flyer to sign in Finland during the dispute.

By Rodger Sherman
Bruce Bennett

The latest Philadelphia Flyers player to sign overseas during the NHL Lockout is Maxime Talbot, who has agreed to sign with Ilves in the SM-Liga in the Finnish city of Tampere.

Although the talks between the NHL and NHLPA are reportedly going better and better each day, Talbot made the decision to sign in Europe for the remainder of the lockout. Talbot joins Scott Hartnell, currently with KalPa of the same league, as Flyers players to sign in Finland.

Talbot, a 28-year-old from Quebec, played his first season for Philadelphia this past year after six seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Talbot tallied a career-high 34 points, including 19 goals in 2012, although he classifies himself as a defensive-minded forward. He said that teammate Kimmo Timonen, who hails from Finland, was instrumental in his decision to play in the Scandanavian country during the lockout.

Like all other deals to sign during the lockout, Talbot will return to the United States when the labor dispute ends, which could be sooner rather than later if reports from meetings are true.