A2Y- Wings Extend Jake Walman

02/28/2023 at 9:43am EST

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today signed defenseman Jake Walman to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.4 million.

Walman, 27, has skated in 40 games with the Red Wings this season, recording 10 points (5-5-10), a plus-17 rating and 29 penalty minutes in 18:55 average time on ice. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound defenseman scored his first career overtime goal on Dec. 28 at Pittsburgh and netted three goals in a four-game span from Jan. 7-14. Walman split the 2021-22 campaign between the St. Louis Blues and Red Wings, collecting 10 points (3-7-10) and 10 penalty minutes in 51 contests. He was acquired by Detroit from St. Louis on March 21, 2022 with center Oskar Sundqvist and a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for defensemen Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski. Originally selected by St. Louis in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Walman has logged 22 points (9-13-22), a plus-eight rating and 47 penalty minutes in 116 career NHL games since 2019-20. Walman made his Stanley Cup playoff debut with the Blues in Game 4 of the 2021 Western Conference First Round against Colorado, tallying one shot in 15:24 time on ice. The Toronto, Ont., native has also played in 169 American Hockey League games between the Chicago Wolves, Binghamton Devils and San Antonio Rampage, totaling 63 points (17-46-63) and 106 penalty minutes.

Prior to turning professional, Walman played three seasons at Providence College, registering 69 points (21-48-69), a plus-28 rating and 106 penalty minutes in 107 games from 2014-17. During his freshman season, Walman helped the Friars win the program's first-ever NCAA National Championship and was named to the NCAA All-East Regional Team. He led all NCAA defensemen in goals (13), points per game (1.04), power-play goals (8) and game-winning goals (4) during his sophomore campaign and was named to the CCM All-American First Team. Walman was also a First Team Hockey East All-Star during his sophomore and junior seasons, in addition to being named a Hobey Baker Nominee following his junior year. Before joining Providence, Walman had a decorated season with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, contributing 33 points (7-26-33) in 43 games en route to being named the league's Rookie of the Year.

TreKronor

He earned every penny of that extension last night.

rwbill

I didnt know he was such a skilled skater as well. Interesting SY is solidifying the D corps based on their performance over some D that have been in the system a few years.

MurrayChadwickrwbill

The only NHL ready D in 2024 is Edvindsson. Johansson is likely to spend another season in GR, and Wallinder spends his 1st season there next year. Neither McIsaac nor Sebrango are guys that will sustain themselves in the NHL on a team that is playoff bound, they make good 7th dman and call up.

I can also see Yzerman trading Hronek, maybe not at the deadline this year, but this summer as part of a package, as his game showed last night, he's not going to be a top 4 playoff performer.

Shanny_FanMurrayChadwick

Great signing!

I agree about Hronek, his offensive upside doesn't make up for his lack of physicality and occasional defensive lapses. It also seems like every game I watch on national or away feeds the announcers always mention how Hronek is a good offensive young guy. He'd be a perfect "sell high" candidate before the rest of the league figures him out.

dcaShanny_Fan

Issue is the Wings have 0 NHL prospects as RHD (Antti Tuomisto and Anton Johansson are simply it). I would give the edge to Johansson who is 6'4" and 187 lbs whose upside is around his speed and ability to move the puck. He was a 4th rounder in '22 and is in Sweden's J20 level but did so well they moved him up to the SEL where he's learning--but that is a long way from the NHL.

i think McIssac is a bottom-pairing defenseman that can play in almost all situations--if the Wings don't see or more likely don't have room on that left side: they need to move him as part of a deal because he's 22 yrs old and has battled back from 2 serious injuries.

VPalmer

Very nice signing

OTC

With the way Walman has played since he returned from injury, I thought maybe he'd wait and see what might happen this summer in free agency. But I'm thrilled with both the term and the amount that Yzerman signed him for. Playing next to Seider seems to be a win-win situation for both of them.

rwbillOTC

Walman has tripled his salary, and still a very affordable $3M/yr.

"The Red Wings acquired Walman from the St. Louis Blues, along with forward Oskar Sundqvist and a second-round pick in 2023, for defenseman Nick Leddy at last years trade deadline (March 21). - Ansar Khan

Now thats a trade, which are hard. Nick Leddy!

dcarwbill

Nick Leddy is still pouting from having been made to go to Detroit in a trade.

OTCrwbill

The only thing I didn't like about that trade was that the Griffins lost Luke Witkowski. He was a solid defenseman, and someone who could "maintain order" when necessary.

But every other part of that trade was a win for the Wings. Walman has proven to be as good defensively as he is offensively. And Sunny is, well, Sunny. He's by far my favorite Red Wing, in part because he's among the best puck-handlers on the team. And we still have a mid-to-high 2nd round pick coming in this year's draft.