The Edmonton Oilers may soon have to make a call on Jake Walman, and it’s not a simple one. A player once seen as a key part of their blue line has found himself on the outside more often than not under head coach Mike Babcock, and that has opened the door to trade speculation.
Walman has already been a healthy scratch several times this season, a sign that his game hasn’t meshed cleanly with the structure Babcock wants. Through his first 11 games, he has one assist and has averaged 14:15 of ice time.
At the same time, there’s no denying the offensive upside that made him appealing in the first place. In the 2024-25 season, he put up 40 points in 65 games split between San Jose and Edmonton.
The real complication is the contract. Walman is signed to a seven-year, $49 million extension with a $7 million cap hit running through 2032-33, and he also has a full no-movement clause through 2029-30. Any move would need his approval, which makes the market narrow from the start.
Utah Mammoth stands out as one possible landing spot. If the organization wants another experienced left-shot defender who can move the puck, Walman fits that description.
His skating and transition game could work well with Utah’s quicker offensive style, and he could help generate secondary scoring from the back end while smoothing out breakouts. The downside is obvious: paying $7 million a year for a defender heading toward his mid-30s is a major risk.
One proposed framework would send Walman and a 2028 third-round pick to Utah, with Edmonton getting a 2027 fifth-round pick back. That kind of deal would be about cap flexibility for the Oilers, though Utah would likely want more if it were really taking on the contract.
Toronto Maple Leafs may be the cleanest hockey fit. The Leafs have been looking for more puck-moving help on defence, and general manager John Chayka has already pointed to mobility and offensive production from the blue line as priorities.
Walman was also mentioned by Daily Faceoff as a possible Toronto target earlier this year. Add in the fact that he’s a Toronto native, and the fit starts to make sense quickly.
His skating, his shot and his ability to jump into the rush line up with what Toronto needs. But the question remains the same: does the upside justify the price tag?
In this scenario, Toronto would get Walman while Edmonton retains $1 million annually, and the Oilers would receive a 2027 third-round pick. Keeping salary on the books for seven more seasons would be a heavy lift for Edmonton, so this only works if Toronto is willing to pay enough in return.
Philadelphia Flyers are another team worth watching. The Flyers have been searching for defensive upgrades and have already been linked to Zach Whitecloud and Simon Edvinsson, which shows the direction they’re looking. Walman would give them something different: a left-handed defender with established offensive ability.
He could help younger forwards by moving the puck cleanly and would also bring playoff experience to the room. Still, Philadelphia is building around a younger core, and absorbing Walman’s contract could complicate that plan. The suggested trade has the Flyers taking Walman and Edmonton’s 2027 second-round pick, while the Oilers would get a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Among the three, Toronto looks like the best hockey fit. Philadelphia may be the more workable option if Edmonton prefers to attach draft compensation instead of eating salary.
Either way, the Oilers’ motivation would go beyond simply moving on from a contract. They’d be trying to create room to bring in a defenceman better suited to Babcock’s system.
None of these ideas reflects a reported trade discussion. With seven years left on Walman’s deal, finding a team willing to take the plunge will not be easy, even with his talent.
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