A Steve Yzerman Red Wings mistake has signed a $49M contract extension
Photo credit: NHL.com
A player who was traded away by Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings just signed a long-term, $49M contract extension with his new team.
Steve Yzerman may not be unanimously liked in the Detroit Red Wings fanbase, but the GM still built an impressive team.
Although he made questionable moves over the years, we can't deny that the young core of players coming up has a lot of potential and could do some real damage in the league in the near future.
His decision to not only part ways with a defenseman, but pay the other team to get him, only to see him succeed with his new organization, was widely criticized.
Yzerman's Mistake Of Parting Ways With Jake Walman Returns To Haunt Him: The Player Just Signed a $49M Contract Extension
The biggest mistake made by Steve Yzerman at the helm of the Detroit Red Wings was sending Jake Walman and a second-round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks for future considerations.
The Sharks ended up flipping him for a first-round pick to the Edmonton Oilers, where the player thrived in the playoffs.
Now, the Oilers announced that they've reached the terms of a seven-year, $7M AAV contract extension with Walman, showing that his new team values him and sees him in their long-term plans.
On the same day he announced Connor McDavid's extension, the Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman had a lot to say when he was asked to open up about Walman and his contract during a press conference.
Here's what he said:
"I had a great chat with Jake when he came in today to sign it. He's pumped. That process has gone on for a while, and it was a situation of trying to work within our structure, but also reward Jake for not only his current play, but also his position in the landscape."
"But in my conversations with Jake, it reminded me of when we traded for him, and I talked to him about coming to Edmonton, and we really believe in him as a player, and we think this is going to be a great opportunity, and we don't look at this as a one-year situation. Right after that first conversation I had with him, I said we saw him as a player who could help us and be a part of this in the future.
"He came in and he really changed the complexion of our D, and it kind of made everyone just fit in their spots just right.
I was really impressed with his ability, and he's a super competitive guy. It wasn't until we got him on our team that I realized how much of a warrior he is. He blocks shots all the time.
He's very competitive, physical, and he's got that competitive side. On top of that, he's such a great skater.
He has a really effortless stride, and his mobility is really good. He's got a big shot, he's comfortable playing on the right side, which was something that we were looking for. It's always great to have a lot of right-hand defencemen."
"He's an offensive weapon when he's on the right side because he's got that one-timer, and he just gives us a threat offensively beyond just Ekholm and Bouchard.
I think Jake checked all those boxes, so I'm very happy that he believed in us and wanted to be here."
"But in my conversations with Jake, it reminded me of when we traded for him, and I talked to him about coming to Edmonton, and we really believe in him as a player, and we think this is going to be a great opportunity, and we don't look at this as a one-year situation. Right after that first conversation I had with him, I said we saw him as a player who could help us and be a part of this in the future.
"He came in and he really changed the complexion of our D, and it kind of made everyone just fit in their spots just right.
I was really impressed with his ability, and he's a super competitive guy. It wasn't until we got him on our team that I realized how much of a warrior he is. He blocks shots all the time.
He's very competitive, physical, and he's got that competitive side. On top of that, he's such a great skater.
He has a really effortless stride, and his mobility is really good. He's got a big shot, he's comfortable playing on the right side, which was something that we were looking for. It's always great to have a lot of right-hand defencemen."
"He's an offensive weapon when he's on the right side because he's got that one-timer, and he just gives us a threat offensively beyond just Ekholm and Bouchard.
I think Jake checked all those boxes, so I'm very happy that he believed in us and wanted to be here."
Obviously, the Oilers are glad to be able to count on Walman for seven more years. Considering the Red Wings' blue line holes, it's hard not to blame Yzerman for shipping him away, as the player could have had a key role in Detroit right now.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
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