Ex-Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman haunts his old club by setting a new Sharks franchise record for offense
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Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman, who was traded inexplicably to the San Jose Sharks during the summer, has already set a San Jose franchise record.
For fans of the Detroit Red Wings who still can't understand why popular defenseman Jake Walman was unceremoniously dumped by the team during the summer, his statistical output this year with his new club will only strengthen those questions.
Walman now holds the San Jose Sharks franchise record for the shortest amount of time that a defenseman has reached 20 assists (31 games), breaking the mark previously held by Erik Karlsson in 2018-19 (34 games).
Walman leads all Sharks defenseman with 25 points (5G, 20A) and also leads them in ice time with 22:50 per game. Additionally, he plays in all situations - even strength, the power play, and penalty kill.
For reference, Walman would easily be leading all Red Wings defensemen in scoring; his 25 points are seven better than Moritz Seider's output of 18 so far this year.
Jake Walman admitted he was heartbroken after being traded by the Red Wings over the summer
It was nothing short of a stunning turn of events, for which there still has been no official explanation.
Walman was traded to the Sharks (along with a 2nd round Draft selection) in exchange for future considerations - aka, literally nothing.
The move drew confusion and even anger from Red Wings fans, who remain unsure why the popular defenseman who was typically paired with Seider would be cast away for nothing.
Walman himself admitted that the news of the trade was very difficult for him.
I just thought I'd built such a strong foundation in Detroit, not just with the team but in Detroit. My heart was there, you know? I wanted to bring that success and passion to Detroit.
It was my first time, like I've said to you before, that I felt like I was in a place that loved me, and I loved that place. It was my first time feeling comfortable in a city. That was it, kind of just over in a flash, like that.
It was my first time, like I've said to you before, that I felt like I was in a place that loved me, and I loved that place. It was my first time feeling comfortable in a city. That was it, kind of just over in a flash, like that.
One thing is for certain at this point. Whatever the reason behind the trade was, it now seems trivial compared to the major positive impact that Walman has made on his new team compared to the absence he left behind in Detroit.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 22 | 185 ANSWERS Ex-Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman haunts his old club by setting a new Sharks franchise record for offense Is dumping Jake Walman for nothing the biggest blunder by Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman so far? | ||
| Yes, that trade is an all-time bad one for Detroit | 169 | 91.4 % |
| No, I trust Steve Yzerman | 16 | 8.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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