Jake Walman Explained

Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:218
League:NHL
Team:San Jose Sharks
Former Teams:St. Louis Blues
Detroit Red Wings
Birth Date:20 February 1996
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Career Start:2017
Draft:82nd overall
Draft Year:2014
Draft Team:St. Louis Blues

Jake Walman (born February 20, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 82nd overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Early life

Walman was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is Jewish.[1] He holds American citizenship, through his mother Mary-Anne, a native of Providence, Rhode Island.[2]

Playing career

Walman played junior hockey with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) before committing to collegiate hockey with Providence College of the Hockey East. Prior to his freshman season with the Friars, Walman was selected at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft in the third round, 82nd overall, by the St. Louis Blues.

On March 28, 2017, having completed his junior season with the Friars in 2016–17, Walman concluded his collegiate career early, signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues.[3]

Walman made his NHL debut for the Blues during the 2019–20 season. In three seasons with the Blues he recorded four goals and four assists in 57 games.On March 21, 2022, Walman was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, along with Oskar Sundqvist, and a second-round pick in 2023 NHL Entry Draft, in exchange for Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski[4]

On August 11, 2022, Walman as a restricted free agent was re-signed by the Red Wings to a one-year, $1.05 million contract extension for the season.[5] After opening the season on the injured-reserve, Walman returned and was given an increased role on the team, playing alongside Moritz Seider. Walman scored the overtime-winning goal for the Red Wings on December 28 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, during which Detroit initially trailed by a 4–0 score. He subsequently went viral for celebrating with the Griddy dance.[6] On February 28, 2023, Walman was re-signed to a three-year, $10.2 million contract extension with the Red Wings.[7]

On June 25, 2024, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks, along with a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL entry draft, in exchange for future considerations.[8]

International play

Walman, a dual citizen who exclusively trained in the Canadian hockey system attended the training camp for the United States men's national junior ice hockey team in preparation for the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Despite being considered a lock to make the team, Walman wasn't eligible to play for the Americans, despite living in Providence, Rhode Island, for 16 months due to not meeting the IIHF’s requirement of playing two consecutive seasons in the country in order to play for the national team, as he was in the midst of his second season playing in the United States.

USA Hockey attempted to appeal the ruling, which was denied by the IIHF. Following the ruling, Walman was invited to the Canadian men’s national junior ice hockey team’s selection camp, but did not make the final roster.[9] [10]

Walman accepted an invitation to join the Canadian national team at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. He was however forced to withdraw his name from the roster due to an upper-body injury, prior to the start of the tournament.[11] [12]

Career statistics

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2013–14OJHL43 7 26 33 87
2014–15Providence CollegeHE41 1 15 16 44
2015–16Providence CollegeHE27 13 15 28 20
2016–17Providence CollegeHE39 7 18 25 42
2016–17Chicago WolvesAHL7 2 1 3 28 2 1 3 2
2017–18Chicago WolvesAHL40 2 11 13 14
2017–18Binghamton DevilsAHL19 2 5 7 10
2018–19San Antonio RampageAHL66 3 10 13 48
2019–20San Antonio RampageAHL57 8 19 27 32
2019–20St. Louis BluesNHL1 0 0 0 0
2020–21St. Louis BluesNHL24 1 1 2 81 0 0 0 0
2021–22St. Louis BluesNHL32 3 3 6 6
2021–22Detroit Red WingsNHL19 0 4 4 4
2022–23Detroit Red WingsNHL63 9 9 18 45
2023–24Detroit Red WingsNHL63 12 9 21 44
NHL totals202 25 26 51 1071 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours

AwardYear
OJHL
First Team All-Prospect2014
Rookie of the Year2014
Top Prospect Award2014
OHA B.J. Monro Memorial Trophy2014
CJHL Rookie of the Year2014
CJHL Top Prospect Award2014
College
HE First All-Star Team
New England D1 All-Stars2016, 2017
East First All-American Team2016
East Second All-American Team2017

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Toronto hockey player coveted by U.S. And Canada. January 20, 2016.
  2. Web site: Toronto hockey player coveted by U.S. And Canada. January 20, 2016.
  3. Web site: Blues sign Jake Walman to entry-level contract . . March 28, 2017 . March 28, 2017.
  4. Web site: Detroit acquires Sundqvist, Walman and 2023 2nd-round pick from St. Louis . NHL.com . Alex . DiFilippo . March 21, 2022. March 21, 2022.
  5. Web site: Red Wing re-sign Jake Walman to one-year contract . . August 11, 2022 . August 11, 2022.
  6. Web site: COME BACK COMPLETE!! THE GRIDDY HAS MADE ITS WAY TO THE NHL . Twitter . December 28, 2022 . December 29, 2022.
  7. Web site: Red Wings re-sign Walman to three-year contract extension . . February 28, 2023 . February 28, 2023.
  8. Web site: Sharks acquire defenseman Jake Walman and a second round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft from the Red Wings in exchange for future considerations. NHL.com. San Jose Sharks. June 25, 2024. June 25, 2024.
  9. Web site: The curious case of Jake Walman. November 27, 2015.
  10. Web site: Even though he picked U.S., Hockey Canada welcomes Walman with open arms. December 2, 2015.
  11. Web site: Red Wings Walman, Veleno to Skate For Canada at Worlds. May 5, 2023.
  12. Web site: Discouraging update released on Jake Walman . May 15, 2023.