Sharks acquire Jake Walman, 2024 second-round pick from Red Wings for future considerations
An intriguing move leading up to the NHL Draft and opening of free agency.
On Tuesday, the San Jose Sharks acquired defenseman Jake Walman, along with a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, from the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations.
UPDATE: The #RedWings today traded a 2nd round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft (originally Tampa’s) and Jake Walman to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for future considerations. pic.twitter.com/14i7Pak0VP
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 25, 2024The second-round pick was acquired by the Red Wings from the Nashville Predators in a trade that also happened on Tuesday. The pick, which will be the 53rd overall in this weekend’s draft, originally belonged to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Walman has spent more than two seasons with the Red Wings since he was traded by the St. Louis Blues in March 2022. He quickly became one of Detroit’s top blueliners over his tenure, being a solid asset at both ends of the rink. Though injuries have plagued him over the last couple of seasons, Walman has come close to averaging 20 points a year.
Walman had a career-high 21 points over the 2023-24 season, scoring 12 goals and nine assists in 63 games. He also made 63 appearances during the 2022-23 campaign, notching nine goals and nine assists, registering a career-best plus/minus of +10.
The Toronto native has averaged nearly 20 minutes per game with the Red Wings, a hefty bump in minutes compared to his time with the Blues, where the former Providence College standout played, on average, fewer than 15 minutes per game.
In 202 NHL games, Walman has scored 25 goals and 26 assists for 51 points, with a career plus/minus of -1, appearing in one playoff game during the 2021 postseason with the Blues.
Walman has two more years on his three-year contract that he signed with Detroit in February 2023. He carries an AAV of $3.4 million through the end of the 2025-26 season with a modified no-trade clause.
As a result of the trade, the Sharks have 33 players on standard player contracts for next season. According to CapFriendly, San Jose has more than $29 million in projected cap space for next season. The Red Wings have a little less than $33 million available for next season.