Blue Line
Dropping The Gloves with Maxim Talbot

Penguins forward Maxime Talbot, 23, is in his third-season with the team and is off to his best start yet, scoring four goals in the first seven games. PSR caught up with the scrappy winger last month.

PSR: You qualified for the World Series of Poker this summer. How did you enjoy your time is Las Vegas?

Max Talbot: It was fun. It would have been different if I had paid to go there. It was fun, but I don't know if I would have paid to go there. It was just too hard.

PSR: Did you beat anyone?

Max: Yeah I got two guys out. I played for 11 hours. I didn't get through the first day. It was kind of too hard for me. Still, it was a great experience.

PSR: Did you do anything else this summer?

Max: I went to Europe for 10 days with my best friend from the Islanders, Bruno Gervais. I traveled a lot. It was good. We had a lot of fun.

PSR: Whoa, is it weird that your best friend plays for a different team in the same division?

Max: No, it's fun. We grew up together. We battle. People always ask me if I take it easy on him, but it's the opposite. I'll give him an extra shot or something to let him know I am there.

PSR: Did you see any good movies recently?

Max: I liked "300." I think there are a lot of great morals about hockey and war and stuff like that you can take from that movie. It's a little extreme with all the blood and everything, though.

PSR: What about comedies? Did you see any of those recently?

Max: I want to go see "Superbad." Other than that, I am not too much of a funny movie guy. I am more of a random guy. I like drama and suspense and action movies more.

PSR: What's your favorite NHL road city to visit? It has to be Montreal, right?

Max: Yes, exactly. We just hang out there. Your family is always coming to town to see you. New York is pretty special to play in also. Madison Square Garden is a special building. There are always good games there.

PSR: Do you have a favorite restaurant around here?

Max: Bossa Nova downtown is a place I go a lot. The owner is a good friend of mine. It definitely has great food and quality food, which is not too expensive. The owner is opening a new steakhouse right beside Bossa Nova, so I can't wait to try that one out, too.

PSR: The Penguins went to the United States Military Academy at West Point again this year. I know you had a lot of fun times there last season. Any good stories from this trip?

Max: Our new strength coach (Mike Kadar) is pretty crazy. When we played paintball there, he had on just a T-shirt and jeans and was running around everywhere and we were just shooting him all the time. That was pretty cool.

PSR: So, who is your road roommate this year?

Max: Evgeni Malkin is my new roommate on the road, so we've had a lot of good conversations (laughs sarcastically).

PSR: Is he still struggling with the language?

Max: His English is getting better. It should be a lot of fun.