Jake Walman Bio
Jake Walman (born February 20, 1996) is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). A left-shooting blueliner standing 6 ft 1 in and weighing 218 lb, Walman was selected 82nd overall by the St. Louis Blues in the third round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Since turning professional in 2017, he has suited up for the St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, and San Jose Sharks before landing in Edmonton.
Early Life and Background
Jake Walman was born on February 20, 1996, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in the Greater Toronto Area, where the game of hockey is woven into the fabric of everyday life, and he developed his earliest skills on the local rinks of the region. His mother, Mary-Anne, is a native of Providence, Rhode Island, which gave Walman a connection to the United States and ultimately dual citizenship.
Through his mother’s side of the family, Walman is related to the late boxing legend Jake LaMotta, who was his great-uncle. Walman is also Jewish, a heritage he has spoken about as part of his identity. These roots in Toronto and Providence helped shape his upbringing before he pursued competitive hockey at the junior level.
Path to Hockey
Walman played junior hockey with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), where he emerged as a promising two-way defenceman with a strong offensive instinct. His play in the OJHL drew attention from NCAA programs, and he committed to Providence College of the Hockey East conference to continue his development.
Prior to his freshman season with the Providence Friars, Walman heard his name called at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, going 82nd overall to the St. Louis Blues. He spent three seasons at Providence, refining his game against top collegiate competition, before the Blues signed him to a three-year entry-level contract on March 28, 2017, ending his college career early after his junior year.
Jake Walman Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
After turning professional in 2017, Walman split his early pro years between the Blues and their American Hockey League affiliates, working on his defensive reliability and his skating. The organization viewed him as a long-term project on the back end, and he continued to develop his game in the minors before earning his first NHL opportunity.
Walman made his NHL debut with the St. Louis Blues during the 2019–20 season. Over parts of three seasons with the Blues from 2019 to 2022, he appeared in 57 total NHL games, registering four goals and four assists while learning the pace and physicality of the league.
Detroit Red Wings Breakthrough (2022–2024)
On March 21, 2022, Walman was traded to the Detroit Red Wings as part of a package that included Oskar Sundqvist and a 2023 second-round pick, going to St. Louis in exchange for Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski. The change of scenery gave the young defenceman a fresh start, and he was re-signed as a restricted free agent on August 11, 2022, to a one-year, $1.05 million contract extension.
After opening the 2022–23 season on injured reserve, Walman returned to the lineup and was paired with rising star Moritz Seider, where he thrived in an expanded role. On December 28, 2022, he scored the overtime-winning goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins after Detroit had trailed 4–0, a dramatic comeback capped by Walman performing the Griddy dance in celebration, which went viral across social media. On February 28, 2023, the Red Wings rewarded his play with a three-year, $10.2 million contract extension.
San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers Era (2024–Present)
On June 25, 2024, Walman was traded to the San Jose Sharks along with a 2024 second-round pick in exchange for future considerations, beginning a brief stint on the West Coast. His time with San Jose lasted less than a year before he was on the move again, this time north of the border.
On March 6, 2025, Walman was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Carl Berglund and a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. The move gave him a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup contender late in the 2024–25 season and placed him on a stacked blue line featuring some of the league’s top defencemen.
Driving Style and Strengths
Walman is known as a mobile, offensive-minded defenceman with a hard left shot and a willingness to activate from the blue line. His pairing alongside Moritz Seider in Detroit showcased his ability to log tough minutes, retrieve pucks, and transition play up ice, and his celebration against Pittsburgh reflected the confidence and personality he brings to the rink.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Walman’s career is his overtime winner against Pittsburgh on December 28, 2022, after Detroit erased a 4–0 deficit, a goal and celebration that made him a fan favorite in Detroit. His trade to the Edmonton Oilers in March 2025 marked his fourth NHL organization and gave him his first clear opportunity to chase a Stanley Cup.
Jake Walman Career Wins
Jake Walman’s career wins and highlights are best understood through the milestones he has achieved across his NHL stops, rather than through any single statistical total. From his draft selection in 2014 to his Stanley Cup-contending role in 2025, Walman has steadily added signature performances to his résumé.
NHL Highlights
Walman’s most celebrated NHL moment to date is his overtime goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 28, 2022, which capped a 4–0 comeback and produced a viral celebration. He has also recorded four goals and four assists in 57 games during his time with the St. Louis Blues and has been entrusted with top-four minutes in Detroit, San Jose, and Edmonton.
Other Wins & Performances
At the junior level, Walman suited up for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the OJHL, and at the collegiate level, he spent three seasons with the Providence Friars in Hockey East. He also accepted an invitation to join Team Canada for the 2023 IIHF World Championship, though an upper-body injury forced him to withdraw before the tournament began.
Jake Walman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Walman is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, with his mother, Mary-Anne, a native of Providence, Rhode Island. Through his mother’s family, he is the great-nephew of former middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta, a storied connection to one of boxing’s most iconic figures.
Personal Life
Walman is Jewish and has spoken about how his heritage is part of his identity. He was raised between Toronto and Providence, where he spent 16 months training with the American hockey development system, an experience that later shaped his international eligibility saga. He is active on social media, including Instagram, where fans can follow his off-ice life.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season has been eventful for Jake Walman, who began the year with the San Jose Sharks before being dealt to the Edmonton Oilers on March 6, 2025, for Carl Berglund and a conditional 2026 first-round pick. The trade came at the NHL trade deadline and signaled that Edmonton viewed Walman as a key piece for a deep playoff run.
Joining the Oilers gave Walman his first real opportunity to play meaningful games for a Stanley Cup contender, and his mobility and offensive touch from the back end fit the up-tempo style Edmonton’s top forwards prefer. His experience in Detroit, where he handled top-four duties and logged heavy minutes, prepared him well for a high-pressure postseason environment.
Heading into the latter portion of 2025, Walman will look to carve out a steady role on Edmonton’s blue line and contribute to a deep playoff push. With his contract running through the deal he signed in Detroit, his play in Edmonton will help determine his long-term future with one of the NHL’s most ambitious franchises.
