San Jose Sharks
Sharks Locker Room: Walman Finding Home in San Jose?
Has Jake Walman found a home with the San Jose Sharks?
You can’t argue with the early returns for Walman, acquired by GM Mike Grier, along with a 2024 second-round pick, from the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations this past summer.
With two assists on Saturday, part of a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken, Walman is up to 19 points, tied for sixth among all NHL defensemen with the likes of John Carlson, Rasmus Dahlin, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Dougie Hamilton. Walman also played a career-high 26:20 and leads San Jose at 22:32 a night.
So that’s the Sharks’ No. 1 d-man, signed until 2026-27 at just $3.4 million AAV, for the cost of nothing and a free second-round pick on top of that.
“He’s got a really natural ability to break out pucks and make plays, whether that’s off our breakouts, the neutral zone, and the offensive zone, he could kind of impact all three zones,” San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said.
One example of that, per Stathletes?
Walman leads the Sharks and is 20th among all NHL defensemen with 15.8 Defensive Zone Passes Leading to Exits Per 60.
Here’s a neutral zone example, Walman to Ty Dellandrea to Luke Kunin.
🗣️ "From the penalty box to glory!" – @sharkvoice. pic.twitter.com/X6TK6Z0gx4
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 1, 2024
And here’s an offensive zone example, partner Cody Ceci slamming it home:
Walman joked, about his awkward keep-in on the Ceci goal: "I told Macklin I never seen a bad pass from him like that before. We had a little laugh about it. I got him back for one in the 3rd period. I gave him a bad pass. So we're even now." https://t.co/q8jtbeg0Tn
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 1, 2024
Mario Ferraro and Will Smith scored the other Sharks goals tonight.
For a San Jose side that struggled breaking out of the zone last year, Walman has been indispensable.
Walman has also fit seamlessly in the locker room, Sharks color commentator Drew Remenda said on the broadcast.
“We have a good group here. I’m fortunate to be a part of this team,” Walman said.
Can Walman keep it up? His career-high is 21 points in 63 contests last season. Just 22 games into his season, the 28-year-old defenseman is about to blow past that milestone.
Can San Jose, 9-6-3 in their last 15, keep it up?
“I’ve said it a couple times now to the group and to you guys that we’re building something pretty good here, and you can tell the confidence is kind of growing each day and within the group,” Walman said. “Hopefully, we can give San Jose something to cheer for, where we’re making these games pretty meaningful.”
Cody Ceci
Ceci, on San Jose Sharks assistant coach Doug Houda’s message to the defense in the third period:
Just keep it simple. Stay between the dots and try and get quick changes. So we tried to just get on and off the ice as quick as we could. It’s on a back-to-back, so you got to try and preserve your energy and be smarter.
Ceci, on Blackwood:
Yeah, he was great for us. They were definitely pushing to even up this little mini-series we had. And he stood on his head for us and came up big when they had some Grade-A chances. It’s awesome to see him bounce back. It’s the kind of guy he is. He stays pretty even keel, and to see him play like he did tonight was great for him and for the group.
Jake Walman
Walman, on Blackwood: "He's a stud…means a lot when you're comfortable with your goalie. We got all the confidence in the world with him."
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 1, 2024
Watch the full Walman interview here
Mackenzie Blackwood
Blackwood, on hearing his #SJSharks teammates have all the confidence in the world in him: "That's amazing to me. Because I love this group. I love each and every single guy in there. I believe they're all great players. To have them have confidence in [in me] means the world to…
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 1, 2024
Watch the full Blackwood interview here
Ryan Warsofsky
This season has been a coming out party for Walman, he's now tied for 6th among all NHL defensemen with 19 points.
He also played a career-high 26:20 tonight.
Warsofsky: "He's got a really natural ability to break out pucks & make plays, whether that's off our breakouts, the…
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 1, 2024
Watch the full Warsofsky interview here
It’s hard to overstate how impressive the cultural turnaround has been after last season’s suckfest.
Also, Jake Walman is out scoring Erik Karlsson and has 17 points in his last 13 games (!!!). Meanwhile,
Mikael Granlund is out scoring Sidney Crosby.
If there was an Allstar game this season the Sharks would have a legit case for at least 2 guys. I gotta be honest, I’m still holding out hope we see Couture after Christmas. Maybe he gives it a go between Christmas and 4 nations and then gets another rest then play out the rest of the season if he’s holding up? I’m an optimist. After the trade deadline who replaces Ceci with Walman? Also, did you see the Jiriceck trade? I would have done that if it were a 2026 1st. Clearly that kid still has massive value as… Read more »
Has there been ANY update recently? I’ve not been following the news as closely but the silence does not give me hope.
Update on which?
We ask about Couture every couple weeks or so, nothing significant shared i.e. he’s about to skate. Someone asked last week
CBJ did well in that trade, especially given the perception of Jiricek as a diminished asset.
For the record:
CBJ gets: Daemon Hunt, 2025 1st (top 5 protected), 2026 3rd, 2026 4th, 2027 2nd.
CBJ gives up: Jiricek, 2025 5th
The only people perceiving him as a diminished asset was fans trying to get him for nothing. He is far from a diminished asset as this trade proves. Seems like it it took a ton to win the sweepstakes.
If he was living up to expectations, he wouldn’t have been on the market.
Not always true. There were clearly other circumstances. A disagreement on when he should get NHL games. Basically same reason the Sharks got Askarov.
The Walman-Ceci pairing is the perfect pairing cuz their numbers add up to 100.
Mario and Lilj add up to 75. Another round figure.
But Thrun and Rutta (or Thompson) add up 87 (or 29).
um… what? Was there supposed to be an emoji in there? Also, round numbers end in zero. That’s why they’re round. 😉
I was going to ask you what you thought of the Jiriceck trade. I agree, I’d do if it were a 2026 pick and top 5 protected. I don’t think the Sharks will regress, but gotta be safe with a kid like McKenna projected to go #1 that draft year. I’ve been wondering about Couture. Is he even skating? Good question about Walman’s linemate post deadline, assuming Ceci gets dealt. Do you bump Lijigren(sp?) up? I’d be hesitant since it seems he’s really helped Ferraro’s game (though lets see if that lasts). Personally I’d rather see them experiment with Thompson… Read more »
I thought it was steep. I’m fine that Grier didn’t match the offer. As other’s have said, I wouldn’t have loved giving up a 1st in the next couple drafts but I would have been fine with it. The dude potentially would have solved a huge hole in the prospect group. I’m sure it’ll be addressed some other way though. At this point I’m very much in the “In Grier We Trust” mode. Seems like he’ knows what he’s doing so if he didn’t make the trade, he must have had reasons.
Interesting take Shork. For a guy who has criticized others for their emotional responses, the Couture comment strikes me as an emotional, likely way too hopeful one. I like Couture a lot and to see his career potentially end in this fashion sucks the big one but how much does Couture likely have left at this point after being out for so long? And with what the Sharks have been building towards, how much is a likely diminished Couture going to add other than memories of the warrior that he is? Things to seriously consider.
Huh? What a misguided comment. You haven’t been paying attention or you just see what you want to see then. my criticism of people’s over emotional attachment to players isn’t even close to the same thing. Long ago I made peace with my favorites being traded. That’s why I tell people to get over it in service of building a cup contender. I’m still a fan and have said since the summer that I’m hoping Couture plays this season. He’s the captain and he’s still beneficial to the team. Also, If he wanted to be traded though and could be… Read more »
He’s still a natural goal scorer and highly intelligent. If healthy he could easily be productive with good linemates. If healthy and he got up to speed I would put him with Celly. No better player on the roster to mentor him. If Couture didn’t have to take all the tough defensive matchups anymore and could just play wing and focus on offense (like Pavs did in Dallas) I could definitely see him putting up 30 goals playing with Celly. unbelievable you just want to write him off like he won’t know how to hockey anymore. He’s not 50, just… Read more »
Whoaaa, slow the roll there! I am not writing him off, I am just trying to be realistic that with his unique injury (and if he makes it back), we may have to adjust to a different Couture, a not unlikely scenario. You are reacting in a way that you have criticized others for. You are putting on some heavy blinders when you state: “…If he’s healthy enough, all it takes it getting back out to practice.” We really have no idea where he’s at and with the location of his injury, it’s likely career threatening. Stop attacking just because… Read more »
“And with what the Sharks have been building towards, how much is a likely diminished Couture going to add other than memories of the warrior that he is? Things to seriously consider.”
sounds like you’re writing him off. Until he announces his retirement that kind of statement is premature.
To be clear, you’re the one who came for me. All I said was I hope he can come back this season and you tried calling me hypocrite for I guess having compassion for the guy? If you can’t take it, don’t dish it. As for the rest, clearly you failed to actually read what I wrote. I specifically said, “if healthy”. Yeah, if he’s healthy, meaning recovered from the condition and pain & swelling free. So that means he would be past the whole career threatening part. He should be able to practice for a month and get into… Read more »
That was definitely a hefty price for Jiricek. Personally, I think rebuilding teams need to be really careful with their first round picks until they have been a perennial playoff threat for three or more seasons. Primarily because I think that unexpected regression years can lead to dynastic cores. It happened for both the Avs and the Lightning, jagged trajectories that resulted in lottery picks the year after playoff appearances and injected already scary cores with additional elite players. On the other side of the equation there are a few recent examples of teams that have given up firsts too… Read more »
Happened with the Sharks when they got Meier too. In the end I’m fine with not getting him but it would have been nice and he’s a more sure thing at this point than draft picks are. My hope, as I said, was to move someone like Ferraro or (gasp!) Eklund if it was necessary. I’m sure the defense will be addressed yet again in the off season. Next season they maybe go in with Liljegren, Walman and another top 4 puck mover and then they’ll be cooking with gas.
Considering what Couture, brought even for 6 games in a diminished capacity, I am right along with you! I think he gives the Sharks 3 really good lines. Plus, would be good emotional boost, in the doldrum part of season. Like the idea of him getting some games and then a break. Just want to see him back on ice, for his sake… Also, agree on Jiriceck trade, little rich, but it is something a competitive team that wants to keep relevancy can do. Plus, they are good at developing D. Sharks not in a spot to match something like… Read more »
Sharks top 2 d-men were acquired for: out: 3rd, 6th in: 2nd Just stunning work by GMMG on this front. Both are 2nd pair viable across many (most) teams in the league. I could even see Walman as a top pairing d-man, provided the partner was the stronger player. Both are + players (using NST numbers). Still not sold on Thrun, though he is looking more like a legit NHLer this season. At least he’s taking a step. With Cagnoni, Mukh and Dickinson coming in the next few seasons, Sharks might not have a high end d-man, but they could… Read more »
If I had to bet money it would be in Dickinson. Big, fast and clearly has more offense than people thought when he was drafted. Griers scouting team did amazing work there when all the arm chair pundits with no experience immediately butchered him for not selecting Buium.
Thrun has looked a little better the last couple games, but yeah, overall I don’t see his game really improving much from last season. I’m really looking forward to seeing Muk and Cagnoni get some NHL time later in the season.
I don’t understand at all how Granlund didn’t fit in with Pit. Right now I’m really split on re-signing him or moving him for draft capital. If we could get a mid/late first, I think you gotta take it, but I’d be just as happy keeping him.
I will unequivocably state; Resign Granny.
Think Thrun would maybe look better if Ruta was not tied to him. Someone that could move the puck. But I would not be surprised if he is not passed by next year- either that or he learns to play offside. I think Granlund would have fit in on Pitt. But he also seems to be a guy that does better after some time. Same thing sorta happened on Sharks, and Preds, he was not great right away, but was better the next year or after 20games (like sharks). I am sorta leaning for resign, if he is 3rd line… Read more »
Reading about how tight the room is and how much the guys are loving playing with each other makes me very happy. They’re tight knit and that means good on ice performance, accountability and standing up for each other which were seeing. Last year was really hard to be a sharks fan. Not only the team blowing ass, but the guys looked checked out. Nobody was standing up for each other and other teams took liberties at will. It felt like all the sharks just wanted to show up, cash their paycheck and get out of there as soon as… Read more »
-Still confounded by the Wings trading Walman for negative value. It was sold as a salary dump but that still seems odd. Regardless of why, so far this is a huge win for Grier and the Sharks! -Trade deadline will be interesting. If the Sharks are playing well as a group (even if not playoff eligible) I could see trying to re-up at least a few of these vets (Ceci, Granlund, Sturm, Kunin, Blackwood or Vanecek) to keep the culture and trend going. On the other hand, with as well as Blackwood and Granlund are playing, the Sharks likely get… Read more »
I disagree on trading away a 1st for a top #6 pick potential #1 D-man. Getting that player now with a couple years under his belt already moves up their timeline to match the players in the system already. Whoever they draft in 2025 or 2026 won’t play for likely another 2 to 3 years. In the end too many assets to give up in sheet number though. Would have been better to give up one more valuable asset and a couple later picks. Ferraro would have been the ideal IMO along with a a 2nd, 3rd & 4th maybe?… Read more »