Jake Walman’s rough Saturday in Toronto gave the Oilers another reason to think hard about the blue line.
In a five-goal loss to the Maple Leafs, Walman was directly tied to two of Toronto’s seven goals, with both coming off deflections that Tristan Jarry couldn’t pick up. Strip those plays - and the empty-netter - out of the equation, and the night looks a lot less lopsided.
But this wasn’t just one bad game. Walman’s start has been ugly enough to raise real questions.
Through eight games, he has just one assist, and his plus/minus sits at -7 after finishing last season at -17. That kind of start is hard to ignore, especially for a player on the first year of a $7 million contract extension.
He put up 20 points last season, but the defensive issues have already become a problem for Edmonton.
That’s why a deal with the Washington Capitals makes some sense on paper. Washington is dealing with its own defensive headaches, with Rasmus Sandin and former Oiler Vincent Desharnais both sidelined by injuries. The Capitals are also trying to work out an Ivan Miroshnichenko trade after recently allowing the former Hershey Bears forward to facilitate one.
At first glance, forward help might not seem like the Oilers’ biggest need, especially with the Filip Hallander trade not working out the way Edmonton would have hoped. Spencer Stastney already has two points in his first seven games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Still, Miroshnichenko could help Edmonton in more than one way.
The Oilers are still trying to get healthy up front, and a move like this could give them a chance to move Walman at the same time. Miroshnichenko’s game would bring a two-way presence, plus the ability to work the boards, help his team set up in the offensive zone and build scoring chances. The comparison here is Zach Hyman, whose style has fit under Mike Babcock’s coaching systems in Toronto and now in Edmonton.
If Edmonton wanted to make the whole thing work, it would also need to take a defenseman back from Washington. Justin Holl stands out as the likeliest piece.
He’s a veteran who helped the Toronto Maple Leafs get past some of their postseason misery before later stints with the Detroit Red Wings and St Louis Blues. Holl wouldn’t replace Walman’s scoring, but he would likely improve the defensive profile some.
He has, after all, put together four straight seasons with a plus/minus in the positive double-digits.
From a cap standpoint, the fit is manageable. Miroshnichenko and Holl together would count $1.825 million against the books. Even if Edmonton absorbed half of Walman’s salary to make the numbers work for Washington, the Oilers would still clear about $1.7 million in cap space.
There’s also flexibility in how the pieces would be used. Edmonton wouldn’t even have to keep either player.
Miroshnichenko could spend time in Bakersfield and still get the developmental benefit of being around the Oilers’ high-end forwards. Holl could be moved again, too, with Edmonton flipping him to a seller at the deadline for help on the blue line.
That would open up another $900,000 for the Oilers to use on a defenseman. If they kept Holl instead, the $900,000 deal could function as a low-cost prove-it opportunity and a shot at a Stanley Cup run.
It’s a complicated route, and it likely means Edmonton would have to eat half of Walman’s contract for several more seasons. But it also gives the Oilers a way to address the forward group without losing sight of the need to get better defensively.
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Oilers Suddenly Face A Goaltending Question They Cant Ignore
The Oilers are having to manage the kind of goaltending shuffle that can quietly change a stretch of the schedule. Devon Levi has gone on injured reserve, forcing Edmonton to bring back Matt Tomkins on emergency depth as it tries to keep the crease stable while other clubs around the league work through their own injury issues, from Taylor Halls expected return in Carolina to Rasmus Ristolainens absence in Philadelphia.
What makes the move more awkward is that Levis injury has not been disclosed, and the short-term outlook only adds to the uncertainty. Edmonton now has to navigate at least the next week without a clear timeline for one of its goalies, a reminder that depth charts can get tested fast in the NHL, especially when the margins between a normal week and a problem are so thin. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Hot Start Is Hiding A Lineup Concern Fans Know Too Well
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Splitting them would be a way to spread the wealth and make the group deeper from top to bottom, which is exactly the kind of adjustment that tends to matter when the schedule tightens and opponents start keying on one pairing. The concern in Edmonton is less about the stars themselves than what happens when theyre not setting the tone, and that is where the conversation around the rest of the forward group gets a lot less comfortable. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Just Sent Trent Frederic A Message He Cant Ignore
Trent Frederic found himself on the outside looking in against the Carolina Hurricanes after Mike Babcock chose to send a message to Edmontons bottom six. The Oilers coach made it clear the standard for those depth forwards goes beyond simply being around the puck, with a heavier emphasis on work rate, winning battles and creating more pressure in the offensive zone.
Babcock also acknowledged Frederics willingness to mix it up, but said the physical side alone is not enough to secure a regular spot. Frederic appeared to take the decision in stride, saying he understood the move and was focused on improving his game and earning his way back into the lineup. [Read more 🡒]