Detroit Red Wings sign Jake Walman to $10.2 million extension

The Detroit Red Wings announced Tuesday that they have signed defenseman Jake Walman to a three-year, $10.2 million extension. The contract carries an average annual value of $3.4 million. Walman was a pending unrestricted free agent.

The 27-year-old was acquired last season from the St. Louis Blues alongside Oskar Sundqvist in exchange for Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski. He was originally selected by the Blues in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft. During the 2021-22 campaign, he recorded 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 51 games split between the Blues and Red Wings. 

This season, Walman and defense partner Moritz Seider have proven to be a legitimate top-four pairing in the National Hockey League. This season, he has already hit a career-high with five goals and five assists in 40 contests. According to MoneyPuck.com, Walman and Seider have the best xGoals Against Per-60 league-wide at 1.68 for all defensive pairings. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound defenseman has recorded a plus-17 rating and 29 penalty minutes in 18:55 average time on the ice. 

Walman spent three seasons in the NCAA with Providence College and during his freshman year, he helped the Friars win their first-ever NCAA National Championship. The following season, he led all defensemen in goals with 13 and was named to the All-American First Team. He was also a Hobey Baker nominee. He tallied 69 points (21 goals, 48 assists) in 107 games during his tenure.

Throughout his NHL career, the Toronto, Ontario product has logged 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in 116 career NHL games with the Blues and the Red Wings. With Walman now locked up for the next three years, that’s another UFA off the books for general manager Steve Yzerman who can now shift his focus to Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi.