Red Wings Castoff Sets New Sharks Mark

Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman is performing at a level the San Jose Sharks fans have never seen before.

Walman, acquired from Detroit in the offseason, needed only 31 games in a Sharks’ jersey to record 20 assists. No other San Jose defenseman has reached 20 assists that quickly.

Not slick Erik Karlsson. Or Brent Burns, or Dan Boyle or even Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Karlsson previously held the  San Jose make of 20 assists in his first 34 games for the Sharks.

Jake Walman helped the @SanJoseSharks take a 2-1 lead and became the ninth defenseman to hit the 25-point mark this season.

Catch the rest of the game on @Sportsnet. #NHLStats: https://t.co/0LsSxn3b6u pic.twitter.com/sYrLjoSrd7

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 21, 2024

Walman (five goals, 20 assists, 25 points) is taking advantage of an opportunity that he did not receive with the Red Wings. In Detroit, he was not a 20-minute defenseman, although he did play in the end with Moritz Seider. The Red Wings used Shayne Gostisbehere and Seider ahead of him on the power play.

In San Jose, Walman leads the team with an average of 22:50 minutes per game. He’s on the No. 1 power play unit.

Walman Trade

The Red Wings dealt Walman primarily for money reasons. They needed more money to re-sign Seider, Lucas Raymond and Patrick Kane. They originally had hoped to re-sign Shayne Gostisbehere who eventually signed with the Carolina Hurricanes.

But it wasn’t just about money. There were aspects of Walman’s game and personality that Detroit’s brain trust did not appreciate.

The Red Wings had to give the Sharks a second-round draft pick to take Walman’s contract. The Red Wings had to give up prospect Andrew Gibson to Nashville to land that second round pick. (They did pick up prospect Jesse Kiiskinen in that deal as well. The Red Wings are growing increasingly more fond of Kiiskinen. He is captain of Finland’s World Junior squad.)

Walman had 12 goals for the Red Wings last season. Detroit fans did not like the trade last summer, and they don’t love it now, especially since Gostisbehere is gone, Detroit offensive production is down and Erik Gustafsson, now the No. 2 point man, is not a fan favorite. He has three power play points. Walman has six in San Jose.