3/7: The Edmonton Oilers have confirmed the acquisition of Walman, documenting the return as a conditional 2026 or 2027 first-round pick and minor-leaguer Carl Berglund. Berglund has 12 points in 45 AHL games this season.
3/6: According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers are working on a trade that would send defenseman Jake Walman north to Alberta. Pagnotta later shared that the trade is nearly complete, and there are rumblings that a first-round pick is headed to San Jose. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug added that Edmonton is expected to send a prospect back to the Sharks as a part of the deal, and the pick will have conditions on it.
The deal may take some time to finalize. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported that the Oilers have some roster constraints, meaning the trade may not be completed until later tonight or early tomorrow morning.
In another master class move with one of his assets, general manager Mike Grier continues to collect future assets for the Sharks. Remaining one of the more baffling moves of the summer, San Jose acquired Walman and a 2024 second-round pick from the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations last off-season. He’s now added two picks in the top 64 at no cost.
Walman has thrived in his new environment, too. He leads all San Jose defensemen in scoring with six goals and 32 points in 50 games, averaging 23:11 of ice time per night. He hasn’t been a drain on their possession metrics either, as Walman has maintained a 49.4% CorsiFor% at even strength, which is good for fourth on the team.
To put this season into perspective, Walman is only seven points away from matching his total point production with the Red Wings. Granted, he’s averaged nearly four minutes more a night, but it’s still a noteworthy development for the Toronto native.
He should fit seamlessly into the Oilers’ lineup. Although Edmonton could have used a right-handed defenseman, Walman isn’t a stranger to playing his off-side. He’ll join Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, and Darnell Nurse in the Oilers’ top four, giving them flexibility to build their bottom pairing with Brett Kulak, John Klingberg, Ty Emberson, and Troy Stecher.
Unfortunately, Walman doesn’t have much postseason experience. Despite the 2024-25 campaign being his seventh year in the NHL, Walman has one postseason contest to his name, coming back in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs with the St. Louis Blues. Walman can rely on his teammates for that, given that much of the roster made it to Game Seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final less than a year ago.
The last major benefit to Edmonton is that Walman is signed to an affordable $3.4MM salary through next season. The team still has to figure out a new contract for Bouchard, but Walman gives them more clarity on their blue line, at the very least.
Hopefully Nurse is going the other way with no salary retained. He’s awful.
Seriously do you watch oiler games? I agree hes overpaid by a lot but hes one of our best defenders for sure. Dont comment if you don’t watch. Stats only mean so much until you watch a guy. Is he worth 9 mil nope. Is he a great player I believe he is yes. Very good on d.
Red Wings had to give up a second to get rid of him and the the Sharks get a first for him. Wow that sucks as a wings fan.
The Yzerplan just keeps chugging away.
Detroit just giving him away for no reason at all continues to pay dividends.
Sharks going to have any players left at the deadline sheesh
They’re doing what they are supposed to. Tank and pick up assets.
Rob… Hello… are the lights on?
This is a great pick-up for the Oil.
Not for a first it’s not!
Always was surprised the blues let him go, kind of like Vince dunn
A 1st lol? No shot. Bowman should fire himself if he did that.
Look at what Tampa just paid for Gourde & Bjorkstrand. A 1st would be market rate
On a good playoff team Walman is on the bottom pair, that’s not worth a 1st. A 2nd is pushing it. Grier made out like a bandit on this one.
I’m just here to hear Wilf tell us that a GM of color is doing a horrendous job. He loves telling all of us how bad of a job GMMG is doing.
I have a better way of going around it: I muted WP the better part of a year ago. Bliss.
Bahahah I think Mike grier made out like a bandit here…against the team that mad him who he is haha!!! Dammit bowman sell our future for again another offensive dman we need some actual defence man bowman!!!! I like Walman no doubt but he ain’t worth a first.
Holy crap Jake Walman has 32 points in 52 games never mind i take back my comment i wilfed it there for a second he is worth a first wow what a season good for him glad to see him finally realize that offensive potential.
“GM of color”, just say Black dude. He’s Black.
Huge win from Grier over this flip. Literally manufacturing picks from thin air.
I know it’s not appropriate to feel sorry for NHLers who live a privileged existence. But I kinda feel sorry for Walman. He just wants to play hockey, and he’s done his job, but he’s been but a pawn in the game of rebuilding teams.
I don’t like this trade at all. Walman was an excellent d-man, someone the Sharks could have built around. That’s exactly the kind of player you want to retain in a rebuild. Like it’s nice to get a 1st, but like… I dunno man. Unless Walman really wanted out, this is a head-scratcher for me.
He doesn’t really fit the timeline of the rest of the team, might as well take a 1st, if it’s offered.
Thing is, for a rebuild of the kind San Jose needs, you’re looking at three years at least. Walman’s already 29. Is he going to be that valuable a player then, when he’s already at an age where performance begins to decline?
Good point.
Red Wings did so well in trading Walman for nothing. Getting to watch Chiarot, Holl, Gustafsson, and Petry (til injured) play stout defense was all worth it… /s
They thought they had a deal for Trouba and needed cap room. Sitting on his hands yet another season is puzzling