PuckSleuth
96Cap hit
$7M
6.7% of $104M cap
Term
7 yrs
Through 2032-33, then UFA
Clause
M-NTC
Surplus value
−$168K
vs. $6.832M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
2
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
14:44
PP 1:55 · PK 0:38
xGF%
54.1
5v5, +10.4 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.12
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
-3
Blocks 4 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 @ VAN · W 9-7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13:02 | 2:12 | 0:54 | — | 100 | 1 | 0 | -3 | -0.27 |
| Sep 29 vs VAN · OTL 6-5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 16:25 | 1:37 | 0:21 | — | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +0.03 |
| Apr 30 @ ANA · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19:58 | 0:00 | 0:55 | — | 33 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -0.05 |
| Apr 28 vs ANA · W 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 16:38 | 0:58 | 0:16 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.24 |
| Apr 26 @ ANA · OTL 4-3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17:29 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 80 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +0.09 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 874 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
11th percentile
1st percentile
8th percentile
40th percentile
17th percentile
41st percentile
15th percentile
58th percentile
17th percentile
79th percentile
91st percentile
77th percentile
7th percentile
77th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleOffensive-minded defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Walman is a high-volume shooter who plays an aggressive, up-ice game with excellent speed and playmaking touch. He generates most of his offense from the perimeter and struggles significantly in his own end and moving the puck cleanly out of danger.
- Shooting volume
- 87
- Playmaking
- 68
- Zone entries(est.)
- 31
- Forechecking
- 51
- Physicality
- 41
- Defensive impact
- 1
- Puck management
- 21
- Speed
- 78
Where he shoots from
Slot 10% · Mid-range 25% · Perimeter 65%(132 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Exceptional shooting volume at 87th percentile, creating constant offensive chances
- Top-tier speed at 78th percentile enables aggressive rush transitions
- Strong playmaking at 68th percentile feeds teammates effectively from the point
Watch-outs
- Defensive impact at 1st percentile suggests major gaps in his own zone coverage
- Puck management at 21st percentile leads to dangerous turnovers and giveaways
- Lower physicality at 41st percentile limits his ability to win net-front battles
Similar style: Brandon Montour (SEA), Mikhail Sergachev (UTA)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 53 GP · goals above average
Season total +2.1 goals, or +0.04 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.5
- Even strength defense
- -1.4
- Power play
- +0.4
- Penalty kill
- -0.1
- Finishing
- +3.5
- Playmaking
- +0.2
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | EDM | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 2 | 14:44 | — | -0.12 |
| 2025-26 | EDM | 53 | 8 | 12 | 20 | -17 | 96 | 18:45 | — | +0.04 |
| 2024-25 | EDM, SJS | 65 | 7 | 33 | 40 | +4 | 164 | 22:46 | — | -0.02 |
| 2023-24 | DET | 63 | 12 | 9 | 21 | -2 | 108 | 19:46 | — | -0.01 |
| 2022-23 | DET | 63 | 9 | 9 | 18 | +10 | 140 | 19:43 | — | -0.01 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- What should the Oilers do with Walman and Mukhamadullin?
Oilers Nation · Oct 3
- Oilers Thoughts: Jarry and Levi fumble their starts, Oilers’ offence and physicality, Walman struggling early, and more
Oilers Nation · Oct 3
- ICYMI - NHL Rumours for Oct. 2: Barkov Injury Links Larkin, Bettman on No-Trades, Walman in Oilers Doghouse?
thehockeywriters.substack.com · Oct 3
- Is Jake Walman Becoming Edmonton's New Lightning Rod on the Blue Line?
Yahoo · Oct 2
- NHL Rumors: Barkov Injury Links Larkin, Bettman on No-Trades, Walman in Oilers Doghouse?
thehockeywriters.com · Oct 2
- Sharks acquire Jake Walman, second-round pick from Red Wings
ABC30 Fresno · Oct 1
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average -0.09 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.3 mph
- 72nd pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 2
- Hardest shot
- 80.6 mph
- 59th pct
- Distance
- 2.5 mi
- OZ time
- 42.1%
- 60th pct
- DZ time
- 39.7%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 30, defensemen typically produce 89% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 36, when the typical level is 62%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
7 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | EDM | $7M | 6.7% |
| 2027-28 | EDM | $7M | 6.2% |
| 2028-29 | EDM | $7M | — |
| 2029-30 | EDM | $7M | — |
| 2030-31 | EDM | $7M | — |
| 2031-32 | EDM | $7M | — |
| 2032-33 | EDM | $7M | — |
UFA after 2032-33. M-NTC. $49M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).