Hindsight is 20/20.
Sometimes, hindsight isn’t even required to realize that an action was bad. A prime example is the Detroit Red Wings’ trading away defenseman Jake Walman.
Walman was a St. Louis Blues draft pick, acquired for peanuts by Steve Yzerman. The third-round pick in the 2014 NHL entry draft put his stamp on a steady pairing with defensive stalwart Moritz Seider.
However, the decision to trade him away today seems even more peculiar. He showed great promise during his time here, and the return he received was the salt in the wound.
Jake Walman Was Showing Incredible Promise
Walman put together back-to-back seasons of good offensive production while having a significant defensive role.
He produced 18 and 21 points, respectively, while playing just under 20 minutes a night in both years. A team getting 20 points out of a defender who played a lot against the opposition’s best players is more than a positive sign.
In both years, he played the third most minutes against elite competition. Only Seider and Ben Chiarot played more against the other team’s top players.
Steve Yzerman Received Nothing In Return
The Red Wings traded Walman to the San Jose Sharks this past summer. In return, they received Future Considerations.
The Red Wings also sent the Sharks a second-round draft pick to cover Walman’s full salary cap hit ($3.4 million). The 28-year-old is on this contract for another season.
TRADE 🚨#SJSharks acquire defenseman Jake Walman and a second-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft from the Red Wings.
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) June 25, 2024
Since arriving in San Jose, Walman has been a revelation. He has 20 points in 26 games and is playing 22:39 per game on the team’s top pairing alongside Cody Ceci.
A player of this magnitude should not have been part of a package traded for nothing. The Red Wings could have gotten a prospect or later-round draft pick, at the very least.
Hindsight be damned.
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