SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks, in an attempt to bolster their blue line, acquired defenseman Jake Walman and a 2024 second-round draft pick from the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday for future considerations.
The draft pick, formerly owned by the Tampa Bay Lightning, will be the 53rd overall selection at the NHL Draft this weekend.
Walman, 28, had 21 points in 63 games with Detroit last season. He was second on the Red Wings in short-handed ice time (154:15), third in average time on ice (19:46/game) and third in blocked shots (151) among team defensemen.
Walman, listed at 6-foot-1 and 218 pounds, has played in 202 career NHL games with St. Louis and Detroit. He has two years left on a three-year, $10.2 million contract he signed with the Red Wings last year. His deal carries an average annual value of $3.4 million.
The move is a salary dump by the Red Wings, who need to get some key players re-signed this summer such as restricted free agents Lucas Raymond and defenseman Moritz Seider. They are also reportedly interested in re-signing winger Patrick Kane, a pending unrestricted free agent.
The Sharks now hold three second-round selections (33, 42 and 53) and five selections in the top 60 picks (1, 14, 33, 42, 53) in this year’s NHL Draft, held this Friday and Saturday at Sphere in Las Vegas.
More change might be on the way. San Jose also now has seven defensemen on one-way contracts, with pending restricted free agents Henry Thrun and Ty Emberson still needing new deals.
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