News broke online from the Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta that San Jose and Edmonton were working on a trade that would see Edmonton pick up d-man Jake Walman, 29.
“We’ll see if it gets over the finish line,” said Pagnotta.
Here is the Cult’s Bruce McCurdy with his full report on the trade.
The hockey world reacted fast and furiously. Here are some of the highlights:
Hockey cap website PuckPedia @PuckPedia
Walman is in Year 2/3 $3.4M Cap Hit/ Of note, San Jose Sharks have no retention spots remaining. He has a salary of $3.3M next year. If a third team retained, they would pay the retained % of the $4.06M in salary remaining on his deal
The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn @domluszczyszyn
Jake Walman has been a bright spot for the Sharks this year. A bit of a surprise to see him moved, but a great get for the Oilers.
The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
Walman is indeed going to Edmonton. The return is not yet confirmed, but chatter of a 1st round pick going to SJ… Walman has been informed he’s being traded to Edmonton. There might be a small caveat that holds it up, but assuming that is smoothed out, this should get finalized.
The Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
Sounds like #Oilers have some roster constraint issues (tonight’s lineup was an adventure) and rosters expand after midnight tonight. So, Edmonton is on their way to completing a deal to acquiring Walman, but may be some time before they can complete/ announce it.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
This one is moving along: the Pride of Armour Heights to Edmonton.
Hockey commentator Mike Bartner @MikeBartner
Walman really isn’t a good fit for the Oilers needs, but man they don’t grow 2nd pair right handed DFD’s on trees, so you gotta take what you can get. Also he has another year at just $3.4M.
Daily Faceoff hockey writer Steven Ellis @SEllisHockey
Oilers fans are going to really like Jake Walman.
Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now
It’s my belief that the prospect will not be of the calibre of Sam O’Reilly or Matt Savoie or Beau Akey, a couple of the Oilers better young potential players. Walman is a left shot. He can move the puck a bit. He’s played mostly on the left side, a little bit on the right side. This deal cannot get consumated until midnight eastern and part of it is because the Oilers now playing with a player on emergency recall, Cam Dineen. All signs pointing to this being a fait accompli and the Oilers have a 22-minute per game defenceman.
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug
Sounds like it’ll be a conditional pick and a prospect for Walman once it gets finalized. Also looking like Oilers may be taking the full cap hit confirming the sense we had earlier today that they’d most likely be using the Kane money. Could be a bit before all is sorted.
Allan “Lowetide” Mitchell of The Athletic @Lowetide
I like the trade. Bigly
Hockey stats analyst PAVEL Analytics powered by TDDT @TData_5115
Walman is a solid enough defenceman who hasn’t had the best last two years due to poor schemes under (Detroit coach) Lalonde, and San Jose being, well, San Jose. Look for him to bring those defensive numbers up with a change of scenery, while the offence cools off without the PP.
San Jose hockey commentator Drew Remenda on Sports 1440 in Edmonton
He has been their best defenceman all year. He has improved his play. He gets back to pucks quicker than he did before. He can PK. He was on the PP and has a bomb of a shot. He is physical, block shots. He has really improved his play
Philadelphia hockey writer Kevin Kurz @KKurzNHL
Is the Sharks’ plan to just be god awful for the next 4 years?… I would just worry that by year 5 Celebrini might get sick of being in the basement year after year. Gotta surround him with at least some talented vets.
Toronto hockey writer Ken Campbell @Ken_Campbell27
Total teardown/rebuild, which usually takes 8-10 years, so, yeah.
Hockey stats analyst JFresh @JFreshHockey
Jake Walman, acquired by EDM, is an offensive defenceman. Has a big point shot and loves to use it. Good puck mover with a nice stretch pass. Can be a bit turnover prone, not particularly physical. Has had an impressive season all things considered as SJ’s #1
Hockey stats analyst Golden Era Hockey @NHLGoldenEra
Jake Walman is a legit top pair D. This addition is at least on par with the Ekholm add in 2023 in my opinion. Very curious on the return…
Oilers fan Karman Gill @Kgill39
That’s a win for Edmonton!! Nice job by Bowman·… I don’t think anyone could’ve guessed Oilers would be getting Jake Walman or that San Jose would move him
Oilers Nation writer Bruce Curlock @bcurlock
As it relates to Walman, the player is a gifted skater and passer of the puck. He’s an excellent retriever and is a strong exit with control type of player. This gives the Oilers one skilled puck mover on each pairing should they choose to go that way. He gives the Oiler coaching staff a lot of flexibility and I would be curious if Walman sees time with Bouchard in what would be a dynamic pairing. There is some risk in a Nurse/Walman pairing on the attack against. All in all, great pick up for EDM and especially the F group
Oilers fan Captain Nuge 👓🐍 @CaptainNuge1
Bowman turned Brobust into Walman and Ceci into Emberson. This is why I gave Holland shit for never acquiring a 2RD previously
San Jose fan Ben Yelin @byelin
I mean it’s frustrating to watch, but Walman is a free agent after next season. No way the Sharks can contend next year, so if you can get amazing assets now you really have to. But yeah, eventually you have to not be the Sabres.
Hockey writer Jonathan Willis @JonathanWillis
He’s a real player, and he has term left on his deal so it’s not a pure rental either… The only catch with Walman is that he’s a lefty and there really isn’t much in the way of NHL track record on his right side.
Stats analyst of The Athletic Shayna Goldman @shaynagoldman_
are the Sharks turning another cap dump into a first-rounder? still absolutely wild that the Red Wings moved Walman like that
Oilers fan Mathew Panchyshyn @mathewjdp
Wow, Edm fans should be overjoyed. SJ should not be trading Walman.
Sports consultants AFP Analytics @AFPAnalytics
Detroit had to attach a 2nd to Walman when sending him to San Jose (something we were shocked by). Not even a year later, San Jose is acquiring a 1st FOR Jake Walman. Phenomenal asset management from Mike Grier and the Sharks, tough look for the Red Wings.
Colorado hockey writer Evan Rawal @evanrawal
(San Jose GM) Mike Grier got Walman for nothing and turned him into a 1st in less than a year. That’s solid work.
Edmonton hockey writer Preston Hodgkinson @NHLHodgkinson
I didn’t have Walman on my radar at all… and I don’t think a lot of other people did as well. On the surface, I love it for the Oilers.
Oilers fan Rich @easternrefugee
So who is going to bad mouth Bowman now???
The Journal’s Jim Matheson @jimmathesonnhl
Evander Kane was skating and shooting before Oiler game day practice Thursday but did he look like a player anytime soon after being out 8 months? No he did not. Maybe Oilers will get to use his $5.125m cap hit in trade with the winger staying on LTIR until regular-season ends