The San Jose Sharks are continuing to rebuild their roster. The Sharks acquired defenseman Jake Walman from the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday, per Daily Faceoff. The Red Wings are getting future considerations in return, according to the outlet.
The Sharks are doing a lot of roster overhaul this offseason. San Jose has a new head coach in Ryan Warsofsky, the youngest in the league. The Sharks already claimed Barclay Goodrow on waivers from the New York Rangers. The Sharks have had one of the worst seasons in the NHL this past season, so more changes will likely be coming. Along with Walman, the Sharks are getting a second round draft pick from Detroit. The transaction is seen as a way for Detroit to clear some salary space.
San Jose finished the last two seasons with only 41 total wins. The Sharks have a plethora of upcoming 2024 NHL Draft picks, including the no. 1 overall pick. The team is expected to use that selection on phenomenal youngster Macklin Celebrini, from Canada.
What Sharks are getting in Walman
San Jose is getting a veteran defenseman in Walman, who is quietly putting together a solid career. This past season, Walman posted 21 total points. That includes 12 goals. He will give the Sharks some depth on the blue line, which the team desperately needed. In the 2023-24 campaign, the Sharks gave up 326 goals, by far the most in the league. San Jose has a lot of work to do to get the team back into playoff contention, but it starts with their defense.
Walman has played in more than 200 career games for the Red Wings and St. Louis Blues. His time spent on the ice per game has increased the last few seasons. In 2022-23, he also had a plus-minus of +10, which Sharks coaches hope can continue when he arrives in the Bay.
How the Sharks are approaching this rebuild
San Jose now has five 2024 NHL Draft picks in the first 60 selections. That includes two first round selections, highlighted by the overall no. 1 choice. The Sharks are widely expected to use the no. 1 pick on Celebrini, a center who plays at Boston University. Following this trade with the Red Wings, San Jose now has three selections in the second round as well.
The Sharks seem to want to mix these picks in with some veterans who can act as leaders in the locker room. Walman will certainly be one of these leaders, as well as Barclay Goodrow. Goodrow was placed on waivers earlier in June by the New York Rangers, and the forward was then snapped up by San Jose. Interestingly, the Sharks got both of those players because their former teams were trying to free up salary cap space.
The 2024 NHL Draft begins on June 28 in Las Vegas. Sharks fans are hopeful that the franchise will start to make some moves in the right direction for the future.
Follow Us
Subscribe